| Definition: |
Cytoplasmic, ball-like inclusion resembling a nucleolus and consisting of a convoluted network of electron-opaque strands embedded in a less dense matrix. It measures approximately 0.9 microns and lacks a limiting membrane. Its strands (diameter = 400-600 A) appear to be made of an entanglement of tightly packed filaments and particles approximately 25-50 A thick. Cytochemical studies suggest the presence of nonhistone proteins and some RNA. Usually only one such structure is present in a cell, and it appears to occur in most ganglion cells. Although they can be seen anywhere in the cell body, nematosomes are typically located in the perinuclear cytoplasm, where they are often associated with smooth-surfaced and coated vesicles. |