AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDY OF THE DISPOSITION AND FINE STRUCTURE OF MYCOBACTERIUM LEPRAEMURIUM IN MOUSE SPLEEN

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Abstract
Ultrathin sections of methacrylate embedded mouse spleen infected with M. lepraemurium were examined in an electron microscope. The bacteria are separated from the host cytoplasm by a membrane which seems to be derived from the host. The space between the membrane and the bacterial cell wall is occupied by a finely granular material which may represent a bacterial product or capsule. The bacteria possess a 150 A thick cell wall and a 30 A thick cytoplasmic membrane. The bacterial cytoplasm contains low density nuclear areas which sometimes exhibit granular threads of denser material. Membrane-limited inclusions, apparently containing numerous spherical particles, are also found in the bacterial cytoplasm and are presumed to be mitochondrial equivalents.