During maturation both absolute and relative size of the nucleus decrease. In some cells (in erythrocytic and thrombocytic lines) the nucleus disppears from the cytoplasm. That is why the mature forms of these lines are without nuclei.
The structure of the nucleus changes, too. Nucleoli disappear from the nucleus. In young cells the nucleus is round and oval. In mature cells it may have a totally different form. In mature cells of the granulocytic line the nucleus is divided into two or more sections joined together by a thin, hardly visible bridge, so we are under the impression that there are two or more smaller nuclei. Similarly, the nucleus in mature cells of the monocytic line can have various forms. Its maturation is also reflected in a changed ability of reacting with dyes. In young cells the nucleus stains bright red, whereas the nucleus of the mature cells stains darker - red blue. |
