Tubular arrays in cerebrospinal fluid cells: their location within smooth endoplasmic reticulum cisternae.

Unique ultrastructural formations termed tubular arrays have been reported in a variety of renal diseases, viral infections, malignant tumors, and other circumstances. This report describes identical structures in monocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid in a case of pneumococcal meningitis. The occurrence, previously unreported, of tubular arrays in this infection and this kind of cell supports the growing view that tubular arrays probably do not represent viral components, but rather a general reactive phenomenon of the cell. In addition, ultrastructural findings are presented suggesting that tubular arrays appear to be located in the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum with major involvement of its smooth compartment.