Sub-plasmalemmal linear density: a common structure in globoid cells and mesenchymal cells.

Sub-plasmalemmal linear densities of variable length (0.1 approximately 1.0 mu) were found to be a constant feature of globoid cells in human as well as in canine globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD). Similar densities were also observed in experimental globoid cells and epithelioid cells in chronic granuloma but not in glial cells. The linear densities always appeared without any relation to basal laminae. These observations together with the other reports of similar structures in lymphoma, fibroma and sarcoidosis suggest that the sub-plasmalemmal density is a structure frequently observed in mesenchymal cells, and may be another supporting feature for possible mesenchymal origin of globoid cells.