Answer to Question #309776 in Cell Biology for Klaus

Question

What is the morphologic interest that happens to the cytoplasm during cell injury

Answer 1

The most prominent morphological interest during cell injury is that it morphological changes are more prolonged in time compared to biochemical ones. It often takes to several hours after damage for morphological changes to be visible (under microscope for instance).

The pattern of morphological changes in an injured cell strongly depends on the type of a cell and the nature of injury. But generally the most common morphological alterations are:

1. Cell swelling due to deficiency in plasma membrane

2. Abnormal accumulation os triglycerides

3. Extreme eosinophilia due to protein degradation

4. Glassy homogenous cytoplasm – due to loss of glycogen particles

5.Vacuolation of the cytoplasm due to digestion of organelles

6. Necrosis or apoptosis if damage is irreversible.