Intracisternal A and C particles in mouse neurons: a thin-section study of normal trigeminal ganglion and C1300 neuroblastoma.

Trigerminal ganglia of 4 adult albino mice of the NMRI outbred stock were examined by electron microscopy. In all animals, about 10% of the neurons contained intracisternal A particles. Isolated structures resembling intracisternal A particles could be detected in atleast 50% of the nerve cells and in a few Schwann cells. Budding at the cell surface and/or extracellular type-C particles were not observed. An intracerebrally transplanted mouse C1300 neuroblastoma was likewise studied. Most tumor cells exhibited large numbers of intracisternal A particles having the same ultrastructure as the particles in trigeminal neurons. In addition, budding and extracellular type-C particles were occasionally observed.