Influence of antimicrotubular drugs on the Golgi apparatus of stomach secretory mucoid cells and small intestine absorptive cells

The effects of vinblastine and colchicine on the Golgi apparatus of stomach surface mucoid and absorptive intestinal cells were compared by cytochemical analysis. The two epithelial cells were chosen because of their different specific functions in the formation of secretory granules, the production of lysosomes and the intensity of membrane traffic in the cytoplasm. For the analysis, adult mice were injected with 1 mg/100 g b.w. of vinblastine and 1 mg/100 g b.w. of colchicine. For the demonstration of cis and trans cisternae of the Golgi apparatus, prolonged osmification, thiamine pyrophosphatase and acid phosphatase activity identification were applied. After treatment with vinblastine or colchicine, polarity of stacks in the Golgi apparatus of surface mucoid cells is preserved although the number of cisternae with thiamine pyrophosphatase or acid phosphatase activity decreases. However, the Golgi apparatus of intestinal absorptive cells completely disintegrates and only a few separated cis or trans cisternae can be identified. The main effect seems to be a reduction of vesicles which can be cytochemically identified as parts of the Golgi apparatus and an accumulation of vesicles which probably originate from budding ER. Communication between the ER and the Golgi apparatus seems to be interrupted.