Macrophages and pigment cells in the liver of tailless amphibians

Abstract

The morphological features of pigment-containing cells and phagocytic cells were observed on the smears of the liver of the lake frogs. Based on an analysis of more than 1500 cells, it was concluded that cells that have pigment granules in the cytoplasm do not have phagocytic inclusions. On the other hand, phagocytic cells can have pigment inclusions only in the composition of phagocytic vacuoles. Thus, in this organ pigment cells and macrophages are different lines of cell differentiation. For two types of cells, the morphological features characterizing young, functionally active and aging cells are described.