Multiple nuclei can be seen in a single Madin-Darby ovine kidney epithelial cell imaged under high magnification. Nucleoli and an abundance of mitochondria can also be observed. The mitochondria are the dynamic thread-like and granular structures concentrated around the nuclei. The appearance of the organelles under a light microscope served as inspiration for the nineteenth century scientists who coined their name from the Greek words mitos and khondrion, meaning “thread” and “granule,” respectively.

Vacuoles are membrane-bounded sac-like structures that primarily function in the temporary storage and transport of various molecules in animal cells. Vacuoles formed in cultured cells via endocytosis, a process involving the invagination and pinching off of a cell’s plasma membrane, often contain culture medium, which is a source of nutrients for the cells. The large number of vacuoles that appear in the featured MDOK cell approximately mid-way through the digital video, however, form near the center of the cell and appear to move toward its periphery. Accordingly, the vacuoles likely contain cellular wastes or other molecules that need to be released from the cell via exocytosis.

The cytoplasm of the MDOK cell that is observable in the field of view displays fluid characteristics. The material seems to move about with wave-like motions and organelles scattered throughout it are able to migrate easily. When in this form, as is typical when the cytoplasm is located in the central region of a cell, the substance is usually referred to as plasmasol. Though it cannot be observed in this time-lapse sequence, cytoplasm behaves differently along the outer margins of a cell, where it exhibits a gel-like consistency and is commonly known as plasmagel.