Bone marrow mesenchymal cells: polymorphism associated with transformation of rough endoplasmic reticulum

To understand the behavior and function of bone-marrow mesenchymal cells (BMMCs), we overviewed the morphological presentation of BMMCs in bone-marrow granules (b-BMMCs), isolated BMMCs (i-BMMCs), and BMMCs (c-BMMCs) cultured in H4434 methylcellulose semisolid and MEM media. All samples were derived from bone-marrow aspirates of 30 patients with hematocytopenia. Light microscopy exhibited b-BMMCs and i-BMMCs characterized by abundant cytoplasm and irregular shape in bone-marrow smears, as well as c-BMMCs in culture conditions. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated cultured c-BMMCs with a sheet-like feature enveloping hematopoietic cells. Transmission electron microscopy revealed b-BMMCs constructing a honeycomb-like structure by thin bifurcate processes among hematopoietic cells. Furthermore, i-BMMCs had bifurcate parapodiums on the surface and prominent rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) connected with the plasmalemma of the parapodiums. The detailed images suggested that rER may serve as a membrane resource for plasmalemmal expansion in BMMCs in bone marrow.