Ultrastructural investigation of DNA in megakaryoblastic leukemia by using osmium-ammine-B: comparison with several types of leukemia.

Using DNA staining with highly stable osmium-ammine-B, the blasts of AMKL were observed under an electron microscope, in comparison with AML, ALL, CML-MK crisis and TMD. The DNA within the nucleus of the megakaryoblasts was observed as a high electron-density substance and tended to be uniformly dispersed within the nucleus. DNA, associated with nucleoli, could be roughly divided in four types based on the presence or absence of peri-nucleolar clumps and intra-nucleolar clumps. In cases of AMKL, we often observed a type that did not have peri-nucleolar DNA clumps but did have DNA flecks within the nucleoli. By analytical evaluation there were no differences among cells from several subtypes of megakaryocytic leukemia, such as AMKL in children with Down's syndrome, AMKL in children without Down's syndrome, AMKL in adults, and CML-MK crisis. The DNA distribution of TMD blasts, which were self-limited and not malignant, resembled that of AMKL blasts.