Fibrin phagocytosis by neutrophils (peripheral blood, mouse)

Electron microscopy. At site of tissue damage motile neutrophils are among the first to be involved actively in phagocytosis. In between a cluster of neutrophilic granulocytes fibrin depositions (1) are present. At (1→) fibrin accumulations are close attached to the surface of a neutrophil indicating the beginning of phagocytosis. The cytoplasm of all neutrophils changes, showing granule-depleted areas (degranulation effect) as the granules discard their contents. There is a loss of glycogen, presence of fat droplets (3) and the formation of large electron-light vacuoles (4). (5) indicates nuclear lobes and nuclear strands. (6) neutrophilic granules. (2) swollen mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum.