[Ultrastructural studies of cells in peripheral blood and cerebrospinal in meningococcal cerebrospinal meningitis].

Cells of peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid were studied in cases of meningococcal meningitis, and in peripheral blood of healthy controls. In the acute phase of the disease the neutrophils in cerebrospinal fluid showed evidence of phagocytosis activation with presence, among other signs, of numerous cytoplasmic processes. Stages of degeneration of these cells were observed with cytoplasm bulging into the nucleus, strong concentration of nuclear chromatin. In the light of a comparative assessment of cellular structures it was found that the population of neutrophils in peripheral blood is a more stable population showing no morphotic evidence of degeneration. In cerebrospinal fluid eosinophils three types of specific granules were found evidencing hydrolysis stimulation in these cells. In the acute phase of the disease the monocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid showed evidence of transformation, and during convalescence signs of degeneration appeared. Lymphocytes rarely found in the cerebrospinal fluid had features of metabolic stimulation (increased number of mitochondria, lysosomes and pinocytic vacuoles).