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Figure 3. The primary body cells involved in the pathogenesis of apical periodontitis. Neutrophils (NG in a) in combat with bacteria (BA) in an exacerbating apical periodontitis. Lymphocytes (LY in b) are the major components of chronic apical periodontitis, but their subpopulations cannot be identified on a structural basis. Plasma cells (PL in c) form a significant component of chronic asymptomatic lesions. Note the highly developed rough endoplasmic reticulum of the cytoplasm and the localized condensation of heterochromatin subjacent to the nuclear membrane, which gives the typical ‘cartwheel’ appearance in light microscopy. Macrophages (MA in d) are voluminous cells with elongated or U-forming nuclei and cytoplasm with rough endoplasmic reticulum. Magnifications: (a,b,c,d) 3900x. (From Nair, 1998b.)
