A STUDY OF RUSSELL BODIES IN HUMAN MONOCLONAL PLASMA CELLS BY MEANS OF IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

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Abstract
Five patients with a serum M component possessed plasma cells containing Russell bodies. Four of the patients had multiple myeloma, whereas the 5th probably had a different disease or was in a premyeloma stage. The Russell bodies stained blue with May-Gruenwald-Giemsa stain and were found in the nuclei and cytoplasm of the plasma cells. Ultrastructural studies showed that the Russell bodies were osmiophilic and those located in the cytoplasm were always situated within the cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The intranuclear Russell bodies were always surrounded by a triple layered membrane, and some evidence was obtained that these bodies were formed within the perinuclear space of the cells. Immunofluorescence studies using anti-L chain conjugates showed a positive marginate staining of the intranuclear as well as the cytoplasmic Russell bodies of the cells from all patients. Only 1 patient had cells with Russell bodies which also stained positive with an anti-H chain conjugate. All Russell bodies were PAS [periodic acid Schiff] negative, irrespective of their location in the plasma cells. Some plasma cells in multiple myeloma may produce an excessive amount of L chains which, in combination with a failure in the secretion of immunoglobulin molecules, may lead to the formation of Russell bodies.