Plasma cells

Recommended video: Loose connective tissue [10:11]

Structure and cellular components of loose connective tissue.

Plasma cells are relatively large, ovoid antibody-producing cells. These cells are derived from activated B lymphocytes. Plasma cells are prevalent in loose connective tissue, and are found particularly in areas where antigens enter the body. This includes areas such as the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts. They are also a natural component of salivary glands, lymph nodes, and hematopoietic tissue. 

Plasma cells have specific characteristics that make them identifiable:

• They are basophilic due to the extensive rough endoplasmic reticulum in their cytoplasm.
• The golgi apparatus is visibly prominent and appears as a clear acidophilic area in contrast to the basophilic cytoplasm under a light microscope.
• The nucleus of the plasma cell is spherical and usually positioned eccentrically. It contains large clumps of peripheral heterochromatin that are interspersed within clear areas of euchromatin. This gives it a characteristic cartwheel or an analog clock face appearance.

The endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus of plasma cells enable them to carry out their primary functions of synthesis, modification, and secretion of antibodies.