Analysis of ring-shaped nucleoli in serially sectioned human lymphocytes.

Serial section analysis has demonstrated that ring-shaped nucleoli of mature human lymphocytes are spherical structures consisting of a peripheral ribonucleoprotein shell that surrounds one large fibrillar center. The shell exhibits usually one or, less frequently, two openings. The fibrillar center is in contact with the nucleoplasm and perinucleolar condensed chromatin, which frequently appears as a pedicle-like structure. Several chromocenters are associated with the ring-shaped nucleolus.