An ultrastructural study of primary granule subtypes in human neutrophils from chronic myeloproliferative disorders

The bone marrow of 17 patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMPDs) was investigated by electron microscopy. Three subtypes of primary granules, i.e., parallel tubular granules (PTGs), fibrillar granules (FGs), and periodic lamellar granules (PLGs), were found in neutrophils from the CMPDs. Only one case of chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL) showed PTGs. Both FGs and PLGs were found in various CMPDs in varying frequencies. These granules tested positive for myeloperoxidase, and were seen primarily in immature neutrophils. In addition, the presence of hybrid FG/PTG granules and hybrid FG/PLG granules was confirmed. These results suggest that PTGs, FGs, and PLGs represent subtypes of primary granules, and that a close association exists between them.