RADIOAUTOGRAPHIC STUDY OF IN VIVO AND IN VITRO INCORPORATION OF FUCOSE-3H INTO THYROGLOBULIN BY RAT THYROID FOLLICULAR CELLS

The incorporation of fucose-³H in rat thyroid follicles was studied by radioautography in the light and electron microscopes to determine the site of fucose incorporation into the carbohydrate side chains of thyroglobulin, and to follow the migration of thyroglobulin once it had been labeled with fucose-³H. Radioautographs were examined quantitatively in vivo at several times after injection of fucose-³H into rats, and in vitro following pulse-labeling of thyroid lobes in medium containing fucose-³H. At 3–5 min following fucose-³H administration in vivo, 85% of the silver grains were localized over the Golgi apparatus of thyroid follicular cells. By 20 min, silver grains appeared over apical vesicles, and by 1 hr over the colloid. At 4 hr, nearly all of the silver grains had migrated out of the cells into the colloid. Analysis of the changes in concentration of label with time showed that radioactivity over the Golgi apparatus increased for about 20 min and then decreased, while that over apical vesicles increased to reach a maximum at 35 min. Later, the concentration of label over the apical vesicles decreased, while that over the colloid increased. Similar results were obtained in vitro. It is concluded that fucose, which is located at the end of some of the carbohydrate side chains, is incorporated into thyroglobulin within the Golgi apparatus of thyroid follicular cells, thereby indicating that some of these side chains are completed there. Furthermore, the kinetic analysis demonstrates that apical vesicles are the secretion granules which transport thyroglobulin from the Golgi apparatus to the apex of the cell and release it into the colloid.     

A BIOCHEMICAL AND RADIOAUTOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF PROTEIN SECRETION BY THYROID LOBES INCUBATED IN VITRO

In this study we analyzed several aspects of protein secretion by thyroid follicular cells. The study was carried out on intact thyroid lobes obtained from newborn rats and incubated in vitro. The fate of leucine-³H incorporated into protein within follicular cells of untreated and thyrotropic hormone (TSH)-treated lobes was traced by quantitative electron microscope radioautography. Our findings indicate that protein synthesized by the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum during a pulse exposure to leucine-³H is released relatively slowly by this organelle. Approximately 1 hr after onset of the pulse, a peak of radioactive protein appears in the Golgi region. The significance of this peak is not clear. Newly synthesized secretory protein passes through the apex of follicular cells without being concentrated or temporarily stored there in the form of large secretory droplets. Passage probably takes place via small vesicles which are intermingled among diverse small vesicles at the apex of the cells as well as in the Golgi region. Exposure of the lobes to TSH in the incubation medium for 45 or 90 min does not stimulate incorporation of leucine-³H into protein. Acute stimulation with TSH does, however, modify the movement of secretory protein within the exocrine secretory apparatus of the follicular cell. It accelerates the arrival of the protein at the apex of follicular cells, and it accelerates the release of the protein into the follicular lumen.     

EVIDENCE FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF THE GOLGI APPARATUS IN THE INTRACELLULAR TRANSPORT OF NASCENT ALBUMIN IN THE LIVER CELL

A comparative biochemical and radioautographic in vivo study was performed to identify the site of synthesis and route of migration of albumin in the parenchymal liver cell after labeling with leucine-¹⁴C or leucine-³H via the portal vein. Free cytoplasmic ribosomes, membrane-bound ribosomes, rough- and smooth-surfaced microsomes, and Golgi membranes were isolated. The purity of the Golgi fraction was examined morphologically and biochemically. After administration of leucine-¹⁴C, labeled albumin was extracted, and the sequence of transport was followed from one fraction to the other. Approximately 2 min after the intravenous injection, bound ribosomes displayed a maximal rate of leucine-¹⁴C incorporation into albumin. 4 min later, a peak was reached for rough microsomes. Corresponding maximal activities for smooth microsomes were recorded at 15 min, and for the Golgi apparatus at ~20 min. The relative amount of albumin, calculated on a membrane protein basis, was higher in the Golgi fraction than in the microsomes. By radioautography the silver grains were preferentially localized over the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum at the 5 min interval. Apparent activity in the Golgi zone was noted 9 min after the injection; at 15 and 20 min, the majority of the grains were found in this location. Many of the grains associated with the Golgi apparatus were located over Golgi vacuoles containing 300–800 A electron-opaque bodies. It is concluded that albumin is synthesized on bound ribosomes, subsequently is transferred to the cavities of rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum, and then undergoes migration to the smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. In the latter organelle, albumin can be expected to be segregated together with very low density lipoprotein in vacuoles known to move toward the sinusoidal portion of the cell and release their content to the blood.     

ELABORATION OF THE MATRIX GLYCOPROTEIN OF ENAMEL BY THE SECRETORY AMELOBLASTS OF THE RAT INCISOR AS REVEALED BY RADIOAUTOGRAPHY AFTER GALACTOSE-3H INJECTION

The elaboration of enamel matrix glycoprotein was investigated in secretory ameloblasts of incisor teeth in 30–40-g rats. To this end, the distribution of glycoprotein was examined histochemically by the use of phosphotungstic acid at low pH, while the formation of glycoprotein was traced radioautographically in animals sacrificed 2.5–30 min after galactose-³H injection. Histochemically, the presence of glycoprotein is observed in ameloblasts as well as in the enamel matrix; in ameloblasts glycoprotein occurs within the Golgi apparatus in amounts increasing from the outer to the inner face of the stacks of saccules, and is concentrated in condensing vacuoles and secretory granules; in the enamel matrix, glycoprotein is observed within linear subunits. Radioautographs at 2.5 min after injection demonstrate the uptake of galactose-³H label by Golgi saccules, indicating that galactose-³H is incorporated into glycoprotein within this organelle. After 5–10 min, the label collects in the condensing vacuoles and secretory granules of the Golgi region. By 20–30 min, the label appears in the secretory granules of the apical (Tomes') processes, as well as in the enamel matrix (next to the distal end of the apical processes, and at the tips of matrix prongs). In conclusion, galactose contributes to the formation of glycoprotein within the Golgi apparatus. The innermost saccules then distribute the completed glycoprotein to condensing vacuoles, which later evolve into secretory granules. These granules rapidly migrate to the apical processes, where they discharge their glycoprotein content to the developing enamel.     

IMMUNOGLOBULIN SYNTHESIS AND SECRETION : II. Radioautographic Studies of Sites of Addition of Carbohydrate Moieties and Intracellular Transport

The subcellular sites of synthesis and route of intracellular transfer of immunoglobulin G (IgG) have been investigated by electron microscope radioautography with precursors used for the polypeptide chain (leucine-³H) and for the carbohydrate moieties (galactose-³H and glucosamine-³H). For this purpose, plasma cells from a mouse myeloma tumor were labeled with appropriate precursors and the distribution of radioautographic grains was determined at the end of the labeling period and after varying times of incubation in unlabeled medium. The results indicated that the polypeptide backbone is synthesized in a region of the cell occupied by the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and is transported from there to the region of the Golgi complex. Galactose is incorporated in IgG primarily at the level of the Golgi complex, whereas the incorporation of glucosamine appears to take place both in the RER and in the Golgi complex. From the Golgi complex, the completed IgG molecules reach the plasma membrane and are discharged extracellularly. The latter route of transport and the mechanism of discharge are not understood but may be mediated via smooth-surfaced vesicles.     

AUTORADIOGRAPHIC STUDIES OF SYNTHESIS AND INTRACELLULAR MIGRATION OF GLYCOPROTEINS IN THE RAT ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND

The incorporation of [³H]fucose in the somatotrophic and gonadotrophic cells of the rat adenohypophysis has been studied by electron microscope autoradiography to determine the site of synthesis of glycoproteins and to follow the migration of newly synthesized glycoproteins. The pituitaries were fixed 5 min, 20 min, 1 h, and 4 h after the in vivo injection of [³H]fucose and autoradiographs analyzed quantitatively. At 5 min after [³H]fucose administration, 80–90% of the silver grains were localized over the Golgi apparatus in both somatotrophs and gonadotrophs. By 20 min, the Golgi apparatus was still labeled and some radioactivity appeared over granules. At 1 h and 4 h, silver grains were found predominantly over secretory granules. The kinetic analysis showed that in both protein-secreting cells (somatotrophs) and glycoprotein-secreting cells (gonadotrophs), the glycoproteins have their synthesis completed in the Golgi apparatus and migrate subsequently to the secretory granules. It is concluded from these in vivo studies that glycoproteins which are not hormones are utilized for the formation of the matrix and/or of the membrane of the secretory granules. The incorporation of [³H]fucose in gonadectomy cells (hyperstimulated gonadotrophs) was also studied in vitro after pulse labeling of pituitary fragments in medium containing [³H]fucose. The incorporation of [³H]fucose was localized in both the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus. Later, the radioactivity over granules increased while that over the Golgi apparatus decreased. The concentration of silver grains over the dilated cisternae of the rough ER was not found to be modified at the longest time intervals studied.     

THE ELABORATION OF PROTEIN AND CARBOHYDRATE BY RAT PARATHYROID CELLS AS REVEALED BY ELECTRON MICROSCOPE RADIOAUTOGRAPHY

The parathyroid glands of young rats were radioautographed after a single injection of the protein precursor tyrosine-³H in the hope of identifying the sites of synthesis and migration of newly formed protein in the gland cells. The same procedure was used after injection of the glycoprotein precursor galactose-³H. As early as 2 min after intravenous injection of tyrosine-³H, the label was mainly found in the rough endoplasmic reticulum suggesting that cisternal ribosomes are sites of protein synthesis. By 5 and 10 min, much of the label had migrated from the rough endoplasmic reticulum into the Golgi apparatus. By 20 and 30 min, some label had migrated from there into secretory granules. By 45 min and 1 hr, the label content of the cell had decreased, indicating release of labeled material outside the cell. At 2 min after intravenous injection of galactose-³H, the label was mainly present in the Golgi apparatus, where presumably galactose is taken up into glycoprotein. By 10 min, some label appeared in secretion granules and by 30 min release of the material to the outside of the cell was under way. In conclusion, it is likely that the tyrosine-labeled protein material consists mainly of the parathyroid hormone. The galactose-labeled carbohydrate material would be either associated with the hormone in the cell or be part of a distinct glycoprotein which may be the one present on the outer surface of the plasma membrane (cell coat).     

RADIOAUTOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF THE SECRETORY PROCESS IN THE PAROTID ACINAR CELL OF THE RABBIT

Intracellular transport of secretory proteins has been studied in the parotid to examine this process in an exocrine gland other than the pancreas and to explore a possible source of less degraded membranes than obtainable from the latter gland. Rabbit parotids were chosen on the basis of size (2–2.5 g per animal), ease of surgical removal, and amylase concentration. Sites of synthesis, rates of intracellular transport, and sites of packaging and storage of newly synthesized secretory proteins were determined radioautographically by using an in vitro system of dissected lobules capable of linear amino acid incorporation for 10 hr with satisfactory preservation of cellular fine structure. Adequate fixation of the tissue with minimal binding of unincorporated labeled amino acids was obtained by using 10% formaldehyde-0.175 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) as primary fixative. Pulse labeling with leucine-³H, followed by a chase incubation, showed that the label is initially located (chase: 1–6 min) over the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and subsequently moves as a wave through the Golgi complex (chase: 16–36 min), condensing vacuoles (chase: 36–56 min), immature granules (chase: 56–116 min), and finally mature storage granules (chase: 116–356 min). Distinguishing features of the parotid transport apparatus are: low frequency of RER-Golgi transitional elements, close association of condensing vacuoles with the exit side of Golgi stacks, and recognizable immature secretory granules. Intracelular processing of secretory proteins is similar to that already found in the pancreas, except that the rate is slower and the storage is more prolonged.     

INCORPORATION OF H3-THYMIDINE IN LEAF NUCLEI OF XANTHIUM PENNSYLVANICUM

The basic kinetics and the pattern of incorporation of H³-thymidine was studied in the leaf lamina of Xanthium pennsylvanicum. A method of foliar absorption was used to incorporate the radioisotope into leaf nuclei. The autoradiographic techniques employed provided data on the amount of the isotope incorporated. It was determined that 10 μc/ml (sp. act. 6.7 c/mmole) of H³-thymidine with 1–8 hr of isotopic growth and 4 hr of postisotopic growth gave the most satisfactory results. The percent of labelled nuclei and the number of grains per nucleus were presented as functions of isotopic and postisotopic growth periods. Distribution of grains in the nuclei approximated the Poisson distribution at 1 hr of isotopic growth. Increased time of isotopic growth changed the pattern of grain distribution. No deleterious effects were observed using an 8-hr period of isotopic growth, but prolonged incubation time significantly decreased the proportion of mitotic figures in the lamina. The amount of incorporation of the DNA precursor expressed as percent of labelled nuclei was linear to about 16 hr of isotopic growth and thereafter decreased gradually. As indicated by the average number of grains per nucleus, H³-thymidine incorporation increased to about 16 hr, and soon after reached a saturation level. The percent of labelled nuclei and the number of grains per nucleus decreased as a function of the postisotopic growth period. However, they were significantly greater in the lamina near the vein than in the lamina region at some distance from the vein. The radioactive precursor was initially absorbed by the cells of the lamina and was subsequently translocated into the vascular system. There it was circulated and made available to the dividing cells near veins of the lamina. This region may be a metabolically distinct part of the lamina with significantly higher rates of incorporation and mitotic turnover.     

FUNCTIONS OF COATED VESICLES DURING PROTEIN ABSORPTION IN THE RAT VAS DEFERENS

The role of coated vesicles during the absorption of horseradish peroxidase was investigated in the epithelium of the rat vas deferens by electron microscopy and cytochemistry. Peroxidase was introduced into the vas lumen in vivo. Tissue was excised at selected intervals, fixed in formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde, sectioned without freezing, incubated in Karnovsky's medium, postfixed in OsO₄, and processed for electron microscopy. Some controls and peroxidase-perfused specimens were incubated with TPP,¹ GP, and CMP. Attention was focused on the Golgi complex, apical multivesicular bodies, and two populations of coated vesicles; large (> 1000 A) ones concentrated in the apical cytoplasm and small (<750 A) ones found primarily in the Golgi region. 10 min after peroxidase injection, the tracer is found adhering to the surface plasmalemma, concentrated in bristle-coated invaginations, and within large coated vesicles. After 20–45 min, it is present in large smooth vesicles, apical multivesicular bodies, and dense bodies. Peroxidase is not seen in small coated vesicles at any interval. Counts of small coated vesicles reveal that during peroxidase absorption they first increase in number in the Golgi region and later, in the apical cytoplasm. In both control and peroxidase-perfused specimens incubated with TPP, reaction product is seen in several Golgi cisternae and in small coated vesicles in the Golgi region. With GP, reaction product is seen in one to two Golgi cisternae, multivesicular bodies, dense bodies, and small coated vesicles present in the Golgi region or near multivesicular bodies. The results demonstrate that (a) this epithelium functions in the absorption of protein from the duct lumen, (b) large coated vesicles serve as heterophagosomes to transport absorbed protein to lysosomes, and (c) some small coated vesicles serve as primary lysosomes to transport hydrolytic enzymes from the Golgi complex to multivesicular bodies.     

IMMUNOGLOBULIN SYNTHESIS AND SECRETION : I. Biosynthetic Studies of the Addition of the Carbohydrate Moieties

This study was designed to determine the time in the intracellular life of immunoglobulin when the carbohydrate moieties are added. Plasma cells from a mouse myeloma tumor were exposed to glucosamine-³H (a "bridge" sugar), galactose-³H, or leucine-³H. With each of the above isotopes, the percentage of total radioactive immunoglobulin that has been secreted after different periods of labeling and the extent to which puromycin prevented incorporation into immunoglobulin were determined. The results indicate that both galactose and glucosamine (in its N-acetyl form) become covalently incorporated into immunoglobulin G late in its intracellular life and suggest that glucosamine is also added onto nascent polypeptide chains (i.e., on polyribosomes).     

Changes in RNA-, DNA- and proteinsynthetic activity during the formation of analfin processes in ethisterone-treated females of Oryzias latipes

The incorporations of uridine-³H, thymidine-³H, and leucine-³H were studied in the process-forming regions of the anal-fin rays of the ethisterone-treated females of Oryzias latipes. The activity of alkaline phosphatase was also studied. The increased incorporation of uridine-³H was detected between 12 and 24 hours of ethisterone treatment, attaining the maximum at 24 hours. The percentage of thymidine-³H labeled nuclei increased rapidly between 48 and 84 hours. The incorporation of leucine-³H was found to increase during the first 12 hours, attaining a constant level at 24 hours. An additional increase in incorporation of leucine-³H took place at 60 hours, the incorporation coming up to the maximum at 72 hours. In the horny substance secreted by the scleroblast mass, grains in the autoradiograph were detected at and after 72 hours. Alkaline phosphatase activity was manifested between 48 and 72 hours. These results seem to correspond to the histological changes, such as the appearance of the precursor cells of scleroblasts at 48 hours, the formation of scleroblast mass during the next 24 hours, and the initiation of horny substance secretion at 72 hours.     

Influence of colchicine and vinblastine on the intracellular migration of secretory and membrane glycoproteins: II. Inhibition of secretion of thyroglobulin in rat thyroid follicular cells as visualized by radioautography after 3H-fucose injection

Young (40 gm) rats were given a single intravenous injection of colchicine (4.0 mg) or vinblastine (2.0 mg). At 10 min after colchicine and 30 min after vinblastine administration, the rats were injected with 3H-fucose. Control rats received 3H-fucose only. All rats were sacrificed 90 min after 3H-fucose injection and their tissues processed for radioautography. In thyroid follicular cells of control animals, at this time interval, 57% of the total label was associated with colloid and secretory vesicles in the apical cytoplasm while 27% was localized in the Golgi apparatus and neighboring vesicles. In experimental animals, the proportion of label in colloid and apical vesicles was reduced by more than 69% after colchicine and more than 83% after vinblastine treatment. The proportion of label in the Golgi region, on the other hand, increased by more than 125% after colchicine and more than 179% after vinblastine treatment. Within the Golgi region, the great majority of the label was associated with secretory vesicles which accumulated adjacent to the trans face of the Golgi stacks. It is concluded that the drugs do not interfere with passage of newly synthesized thyroglobulin from the Golgi saccules to nearby secretory vesicles, but do inhibit intracellular migration of these vesicles to the cell apex. In most cells the number of vesicles in the apical cytoplasm diminished, but this was not always the case, suggesting that exocytosis may also be partially inhibited. The loss of microtubules in drug-treated cells suggests that the microtubules may be necessary for intracellular transport of thyroglobulin.     

LYSOSOME FUNCTION IN THE REGULATION OF THE SECRETORY PROCESS IN CELLS OF THE ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND

The nature and content of lytic bodies and the localization of acid phosphatase (AcPase) activity were investigated in mammotrophic hormone-producing cells (MT) from rat anterior pituitary glands. MT were examined from lactating rats in which secretion of MTH¹ was high and from postlactating rats in which MTH secretion was suppressed by removing the suckling young. MT from lactating animals contained abundant stacks of rough-surfaced ER, a large Golgi complex with many forming secretory granules, and a few lytic bodies, primarily multivesicular bodies and dense bodies. MT from postlactating animals, sacrificed at selected intervals up to 96 hr after separation from their suckling young, showed (a) progressive involution of the protein synthetic apparatus with sequestration of ER and ribosomes in autophagic vacuoles, and (b) incorporation of secretory granules into multivesicular and dense bodies. The content of mature granules typically was incorporated into dense bodies whereas that of immature granules found its way preferentially into multivesicular bodies. The secretory granules and cytoplasmic constituents segregated within lytic bodies were progressively degraded over a period of 24 to 72 hr to yield a common residual body, the vacuolated dense body. In MT from lactating animals, AcPase reaction product was found in lytic bodies, and in several other sites not usually considered to be lysosomal in nature, i.e., inner Golgi cisterna and associated vesicles, and around most of the immature, and some of the mature secretory granules. In MT from postlactating animals, AcPase was concentrated in lytic bodies; reaction product and incorporated secretory granules were frequently recognizable within the same multivesicular or dense body which could therefore be identified as "autolysosomes" connected with the digestion of endogenous materials. Several possible explanations for the occurrence of AcPase in nonlysosomal sites are discussed. From the findings it is concluded that, in secretory cells, lysosomes function in the regulation of the secretory process by providing a mechanism which takes care of overproduction of secretory products.     

INTRACELLULAR TRANSPORT OF SECRETORY PROTEINS IN THE PANCREATIC EXOCRINE CELL : II. Transport to Condensing Vacuoles and Zymogen Granules

In the previous paper we described an in vitro system of guinea pig pancreatic slices whose secretory proteins can be pulse-labeled with radioactive amino acids. From kinetic experiments performed on smooth and rough microsomes isolated by gradient centrifugation from such slices, we obtained direct evidence that secretory proteins are transported from the cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum to condensing vacuoles of the Golgi complex via small vesicles located in the periphery of the complex. Since condensing vacuoles ultimately become zymogen granules, it was of interest to study this phase of the secretory cycle in pulse-labeled slices. To this intent, a zymogen granule fraction was isolated by differential centrifugation from slices at the end of a 3-min pulse with leucine-¹⁴C and after varying times of incubation in chase medium. At the end of the pulse, few radioactive proteins were found in this fraction; after +17 min in chaser, its proteins were half maximally labeled; they became maximally labeled between +37 and +57 min. Parallel electron microscopic radioautography of intact cells in slices pulse labeled with leucine-³H showed, however, that zymogen granules become labeled, at the earliest, +57 min post-pulse. We assumed that the discrepancy between the two sets of results was due to the presence of rapidly labeled condensing vacuoles in the zymogen granule fraction. To test this assumption, electron microscopic radioautography was performed on sections of zymogen granule pellets isolated from slices pulse labeled with leucine-³H and subsequently incubated in chaser. The results showed that the early labeling of the zymogen granule fractions was, indeed, due to the presence of highly labeled condensing vacuoles among the components of these fractions.     

RELATION OF PLASTOCHRON TO ANATOMY AND GROWTH IN THE SHOOT APEX OF CHRYSANTHEMUM

The relation between plastochron stage, apical anatomy, and thymidine-C¹⁴ incorporation was studied in the shoot apex of Chrysanthemum morifolium ‘Albatross.’ Apices were sorted into early, middle, and late plastochron stage under a dissecting microscope, fixed, and sectioned longitudinally so that median sections included known sectors of the apical flank. Study of these sections revealed no discernible difference between apices in early, middle, or late plastochron with respect to regularity of cell pattern, presence of a cambium-like zone, appearance of the second tunica layer or staining pattern with pyronin or with toluidine blue. Likewise, apices that had been treated with thymidine-C¹⁴ for 2-4 hr showed no differences between the three stages in number or distribution of labeled cells.     

Radioautographic analysis of the secretory pathway for glycoproteins in principal cells of the mouse epididymis exposed to [3H] fucose

The secretory process for glycoproteins in principal cells of the mouse caput epididymis was studied by electron microscope radioautography at intervals after exposure to [3H] fucose in vitro. The large Golgi apparatus showed very heavy labeling at the initial interval, followed by a steady decline in percent of grains and relative grain concentrations. Conversely, the epididymal lumen and the apical cell surface began low and increased in radioactivity at the 30-min interval. The extensive sparsely granulated endoplasmic reticulum showed modest increases in percent of grains and relative grain concentrations 30 min after administration of the percursor. Subdivision of the sparsely granulated reticulum into "intermediate" profiles (some ribosomes attached to the membranes) and "smooth" profiles (lacking ribosomes) showed that this increase was due to silver grains assigned to the smooth portions. After the initial interval, high relative grain concentrations were calculated for vesicles. The results indicate that glycosylation of epididymal secretory glycoproteins occurs in the Golgi apparatus, which is, therefore, not bypassed as its morphological features had suggested. The kinetics of the secretory process in the principal cells includes 15 to 30 min for synthesis of the polypeptide parts of secretory products and addition of sugars in the Golgi apparatus, and a similar time for subsequent release from the Golgi apparatus, transport to the apical end of the cell and discharge to the lumen. Ribosome-studded (intermediate) portions of the sparsely granulated endoplasmic reticulum are probably involved in synthesis of polypeptide parts of secretory products, while vesicles or smooth portions of the sparsely granulated reticulum may play a role in intracellular transport of glycoproteins.     

CYTOCHEMICAL STAINING OF MULTIVESICULAR BODY AND GOLGI VESICLES

To investigate the origin and nature of vesicles found within multivesicular bodies (mvb), the cytochemical staining properties of mvb vesicles were compared with those of other cytoplasmic vesicles, i.e. those associated with the Golgi complex and endocytic vesicles found near the apical cell surface. Rat epididymal tissue was stained in unbuffered OsO₄ for 40–48 hr, and the distribution of stain was compared to that of reaction products for acid phosphatase (AcPase) to mark lysosomal vesicles, or thiamine pyrophosphatase (TPPase) to mark certain Golgi vesicles, or infused with peroxidase (HRPase) to demonstrate endocytic vesicles. Mvb vesicles were stained only by OsO₄; AcPase, TPPase, and HRPase reaction products stained the mvb matrix. OsO₄ also stained certain vesicles along the convex surface of the Golgi complex. The findings suggest that mvb vesicles in epididymal epithelium are not lysosomes and are not involved in protein uptake. The majority of these vesicles have cytochemical reactions in common with vesicles located along the convex surface of the Golgi complex and may be derived therefrom. A minority are derived from the mvb-limiting membrane.     

Fucosylation of glycoproteins in rat spermatocytes and spermatids

Glycoprotein synthesis in pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids, isolated from rat testes, was studied by analysis of the incorporation of (³H)-fucose. The isolated germ cells were capable of incorporating (³H)-fucose into cell-bound, acid-precipitable components for an incubation period of at least 23 hours (at 32°C). In young spermatids, engaged in the formation of the acrosome, (³H)-fucose was incorporated into more than 16 different glycoproteins within the molecular weight range of 20.000–100,000. A qualitatively similar set of glycoproteins was found to be labeled in spermatocytes. Radioautography showed that after 4 hr most of the incorporated radioactivity was present at one pole in the perinuclear zone of spermatocytes and spermatids, which could reflect incorporation of fucose in the Golgi apparatus. The newly fucosylated glycoproteins were associated with a particulate subcellular fraction (membrane fraction). Trypsin treatment of whole cells after 25 hours of incubation with (³H)-fucose, however, did not cause significant lysis of tritiated glycoproteins. From the results it was concluded that the majority of the newly fucosylated glycoproteins in spermatocytes and spermatids remained associated with an intracellular membrane system, presumably the Golgi apparatus and the vesicles that arise from this structure, to be deposited subsequently in proacrosomic granules and the acrosome. The results also suggest that initiation of the synthesis of spermatidal glycoproteins occurs during the prophase of meiosis in spermatocytes.     

INTRACELLULAR TRANSPORT OF SECRETORY PROTEINS IN THE PANCREATIC EXOCRINE CELL : I. Role of the Peripheral Elements of the Golgi Complex

It has been established by electron microscopic radioautography of guinea pig pancreatic exocrine cells (Caro and Palade, 1964) that secretory proteins are transported from the elements of the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to condensing vacuoles of the Golgi complex possibly via small vesicles located in the periphery of the complex. To define more clearly the role of these vesicles in the intracellular transport of secretory proteins, we have investigated the secretory cycle of the guinea pig pancreas by cell fractionation procedures applied to pancreatic slices incubated in vitro. Such slices remain viable for 3 hr and incur minimal structural damage in this time. Their secretory proteins can be labeled with radioactive amino acids in short, well defined pulses which, followed by cell fractionation, makes possible a kinetic analysis of transport. To determine the kinetics of transport, we pulse-labeled sets of slices for 3 min with leucine-¹⁴C and incubated them for further +7, +17, and +57 min in chase medium. At each time, smooth microsomes ( = peripheral elements of the Golgi complex) and rough microsomes ( = elements of the rough ER) were isolated from the slices by density gradient centrifugation of the total microsomal fraction. Labeled proteins appeared initially (end of pulse) in the rough microsomes and were subsequently transferred during incubation in chase medium to the smooth microsomes, reaching a maximal concentration in this fraction after +7 min chase incubation. Later, labeled proteins left the smooth microsomes to appear in the zymogen granule fraction. These data provide direct evidence that secretory proteins are transported from the cisternae of the rough ER to condensing vacuoles via the small vesicles of the Golgi complex.