The Golgi apparatus of goblet cells in the mouse descending colon : three-dimensional visualization using a confocal laser scanning microscope

Kataoka Katsuko

Suzaki Etsuko

Komura Kazuhide

Histochemistry and Cell Biology

The three-dimensional structure of the Golgi apparatus was studied in goblet cells in lectin-stained sections of the mouse descending colon by using a confocal laser scanning microscope. In the lower part of the crypt, the Golgi apparatus formed a dome-or globe-like structure in the supranuclear region. The wall of the dome or the globe had some holes, one of which usually faced toward the nucleus and others toward the apical cytoplasm. Mucous granules seemed to be initially released into the interior of the dome and transported toward the apical cytoplasm through the holes. In the upper part of the crypt, on the other hand, the Golgi apparatus formed a cup- or funnel-like structure with a larger opening toward the cell apex and a smaller opening toward the nucleus. A large mass ofmucous granules occupied the inside of the cup to the apical cytoplasm. It is thought that the accumulation of mucous granules enlarges holes at the ceiling of the dome to form a large opening, which makes the configuration of the Golgi apparatus cup-shaped.

Descending colon

Goblet cells

Golgi apparatus

Lectin staining, Mouse

eng

Springer

Copyright (c) 2001 Springer-Verlag. "The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com"

[ISSN] 0948-6143

[DOI] 10.1007/s004180100322

[PMID] 11702191

[NCID] AA11033302

[DOI] http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004180100322