Electron Microscopic Observations on Virus-Like Particles of a Catfish Papilloma

Abstract

Papillomas in catfishes have been described (1) but the presence of viruses in these tumors has not (2). This report is concerned with the study of a papilloma found on the lower lip of a brown bullhead (letalurus nebulosus) which had been frozen prior to arrival at our laboratory.Tumor tissues were thawed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde and postfixed in 1$ osmium tetroxide. Both fixatives were prepared in Millonig's buffer. Fixation, washing, dehydration, and Epon embedding were accomplished according to conventional electron microscopic techniques.Examination of thin sections revealed virus-like particles in epidermal cells which constituted the major part of the neoplasm (Fig. 1). No particles were found in the connective tissue surrounding the epidermal papillae. The cells containing particles were usually isolated from one another, had a spindle or fusiform shape, and exhibited many cytoplasmic extensions in random directions. Their nuclei were pleomorphic and displayed irregular nuclear envelopes with relatively large lacunae. Vesiculation of the cytoplasm was extensive, apparently caused by dilations of the endoplasmic reticulum.