Cell Inclusion

Cell Inclusion:

The inclusion bodies are tiny particles found freely suspended and floating within the cytoplasmic matrix. Therefore, also referred to as cytoplasmic inclusions. These cell inclusions are formed with decreasing pH and from the pool of soluble fusion proteins within the cell. They are the elementary bodies, formed during infectious diseases or within the virus-infected cells such as rabies, herpes, measles, etc.

Inclusion bodies are abnormal structures with distinct size and shape and usually observed in nerve, epithelial, or endothelial cells. They have a characteristic staining property and are typically composed of proteins.

Inclusion bodies are non-living chemical compounds and by-products of cellular metabolism. They are found both in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. There are a wide variety of inclusion bodies in different types of cells. In prokaryotic cells, they are mainly formed to store reserve materials. In animal cells, they store fats and sugars that are ready for cellular respiration and in plant cells, they store granules of materials like glycogen, starch, etc.

Gas vacuoles, cyanophycean granules, phosphate granules, glycogen granules are a few examples of inclusion particles.

• They are generally acidophilic.

• Maybe crystalline aggregates of virions.

• Represent degenerative changes produced by a viral infection.

• Are made of virus antigens present at the site of virus synthesis.

• They are seen as pink structures when stained with gypsum or methylene blue dye.