The lesions in cell membranes caused by complement.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the lesions in cell membranes caused by complement. The most elegant electron microscope pictures of the holes in the cell membrane produced by complement have intrigued all immunologists. Many unpublished studies of the authors relating to these questions are included in this chapter. The appearance of the holes varies little, whichever type of membrane, antibody, or complement is used. When the surface of the membrane lies flat on the electron microscope grid, a dark central portion of the hole is observed that is surrounded by a clear ring. The surrounding ring may be single, double, or it may have tiny spikes radiating from it; sometimes the ring is incomplete. The dark central portion may be irregular in outline. It appears to be an indentation in the membrane surface, filled with negative strain. There is considerable uncertainty at present about the structural organization of the numerous components of which cell membranes are composed and about the way in which their selective permeability properties are maintained.