Comparative ultrastructural morphology of aurosomes produced by colloidal gold and soluble gold salts.

Intra-articular administration of colloidal gold produced aurosomes which contained spherical electron-dense granules and also often some very fine electron-dense particles. Intra-articular administration of aurothioglucose produced aurosomes of a morphology similar to that reported to occur after administration of sodium aurothiomalate. These aurosomes produced by soluble gold salts are characterised by particle and granule-studded membranous formations which present in profile as rod-like and curled filamentous structures. On the basis of morphological differences two types of aurosomes should be recognised, the "Type I or granular aurosome" and the "Type II or membranous aurosome".