scholarly journals High-resolution cytochemistry of neuraminic and hexuronic acid-containing macromolecules applying the enzyme-gold approach.

1988 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 1005-1014 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Londoño ◽  
M Bendayan

We localized acidic glycoconjugates at the ultrastructural level by applying the enzyme-gold approach. Neuraminidase and hyaluronidase were adsorbed to colloidal gold particles and applied to tissue sections under optimal conditions for their enzymatic activity. Neuraminidase-gold labeling was distributed over the Golgi apparatus and associated secretory granules in exocrine pancreatic cells and duodenal goblet cells. Mitochondria were labeled over inner membranes. Labeling was also found over the dispersed chromatin in the nucleus. Plasma membranes, particularly the apical side, were labeled by gold particles. On the other hand, incubation of tissue sections with the hyaluronidase-gold complex resulted in intense labeling of the rER membranes, the plasma membrane, and the dense chromatin in the nucleus. Labeling was also found over the Golgi apparatus and associated secretory granules, but only in duodenal goblet cells. Specificity of the results was confirmed by various control experiments performed, indicating that the enzyme-gold technique is useful for detecting linked-sugar residues on tissue thin sections. Labelings found over intra- and extracellular compartments in the present work are discussed in light of previous biochemical indications as well as of other histochemical detections of these glycoconjugates.

1981 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 531-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Bendayan

A cytochemical technique for the ultrastructural localization of substrates using enzyme-gold complexes is reported. RNase A and DNase I have been labeled with gold particles. The RNase-gold and dNase-gold complexes obtained were applied on thin sections of glutaraldehyde-fixed and Epon-embedded tissues. Different cellular compartments were labeled by these enzyme-gold complexes. Using the RNase-gold complex the rough endoplasmic reticulum appeared decorated with gold particles. The gold marker was also present over the nucleus, especially over the nucleolus; mitochondria were weakly labeled. Using the DNase-gold complex, gold particles were concentrated over the euchromatin of the nucleus and the mitochondria. The heterochromatin and the nucleolus showed a less intense labeling. For both enzyme-gold complexes, the Golgi area, the secretory granules and the extracellular space appeared free of label. In those control conditions where the substrates were added to the enzyme-gold complexes a major reduction in the labeling was observed. A quantitative evaluation of the labeling was performed. This evaluation confirmed the qualitative observations and the marked reduction of labeling occurring under the control conditions. The combination of the specificity of the enzyme-substrate interactions with the size and electron density of the gold particles and the good ultrastructural preservation of the tissues resulted in a very specific labeling with high resolution. These results demonstrate the possibility of detecting substrates by means of enzyme-gold complexes at the electron microscope level.


1988 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 1069-1074 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Akagi ◽  
A Yamamoto ◽  
T Yoshimori ◽  
R Masaki ◽  
R Ogawa ◽  
...  

We investigated immunocytochemically the ultrastructural localization of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) in rat pancreatic exocrine cells by use of the post-embedding protein A-gold technique. We found that not only the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nuclear envelope but also the trans-Golgi cisternae, secretory granules, and plasma membranes were heavily labeled with gold particles. Labeling density of the gold particles in the rough ER and plasma membranes of the exocrine pancreatic cells was twofold and twentyfold greater, respectively, than that of hepatocytes. In the acinar lumen, amorphous material presumably corresponding to the secreted zymogens was also labeled with gold particles. These results suggest that in rat exocrine pancreatic cells a significant amount of PDI is transported to the plasma membrane and secreted to the acinar lumen.


The formation of mucus in goblet cells and its relation to the Golgi apparatus has been studied by various workers. Nassanow (1923) showed clearly that the mucin granules in the goblet cells of Triton originated in the Golgi apparatus, and so brought secretion in these cells into line with his theory of the bound secretion. More recently Clara (1926) has shown in the goblet cells of birds that the mucin first appears in the region next to the nucleus, between it and the gland lumen. Florey (1932, a, b ) has considered this more extensively in two recent papers, and for a number of mammals has shown that the mucin granules of goblet cells first form in the meshes of the Golgi network. In epithelial cells of the mouse vagina, undergoing conversion into mucous cells, he has found that the same process occurs. In a recent investigation of secretory formation in the salivary glands and pancreas it was found by the present author that in every cell type examined the young secretory granules first appeared in the basal region of the cell in relation to the mitochondria. Subsequent emigration occurred into the Golgi zone, where they underwent conversion into mature secretory granules. In the mucous cells of the salivary glands it was shown that these newly formed granules might be stained intravitam by Janus green or neutral red, and that in fixed preparations they stained selectively with acid fuchsin as described by Noll (1902), In the light of this work it appeared probable that while mucin formation might occur in the Golgi zone of the goblet cells as described by these authors, the origin of the granules might lie in the basal region of the cell.


1982 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 471-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Takagi ◽  
R T Parmley ◽  
S S Spicer ◽  
F R Denys ◽  
M E Setser

The present study has applied the low iron diamine (LID) method at the ultrastructural level to demonstrate acid glycoconjugates. We have examined rat epiphyseal cartilage, human bone marrow, rat tracheal glands, and mouse sublingual glands stained with LID prior to embedment. The LID staining appeared to require postosmication for adequate visualization at the electron microscope level. Thiocarbohydrazide-silver proteinate (TCH-SP) staining of thin sections variably enhanced LID reactive sites. LID-TCH-SP stained carboxyl and sulfate groups of glycosaminoglycans in the extracellular cartilage matrix, secretory granules, and expanded Golgi saccules of chondrocytes. In human bone marrow, LID-TCH-SP variably stained the cytoplasmic granules, known to contain sulfated glycosaminoglycans, and the external surface of the plasma membrane of leukocytes. Moderately strong LID staining was observed in secretory granules in mucous tubules of rat tracheal glands, known to contain sulfated glycoproteins, and in acinar cells of mouse sublingual glands, known to contain a sialoglycoprotein. The lack of sulfated glycoconjugates in acinar cells of the mouse sublingual gland was confirmed by their failure to stain with the high iron diamine method. Thus these studies indicate that the LID and LID-TCH-SP methods are useful for the ultrastructural localization of carboxylated and sulfated glycoconjugates in extracellular and intracellular sites.


1987 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
O Nilsson ◽  
A Dahlström ◽  
M Geffard ◽  
H Ahlman ◽  
L E Ericson

Serotonin-like immunoreactivity (5-HT-LI) has been localized at the ultrastructural level in enterochromaffin (EC) cells of rat gastrointestinal tract. Ultra-thin sections of tissues embedded in epoxy resin were incubated with 5-HT antisera and antibody binding sites were visualized with protein A-gold. Three different antisera were compared and were shown to require different fixation regimens for optimal preservation of 5-HT-LI. For one antiserum, tissues fixed in glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide could be used to demonstrate 5-HT-LI in EC cells. Immunocytochemical localization of 5-HT can thus be performed with good ultrastructural preservation of tissues. Quantitative evaluation of the intracellular distribution of 5-HT-LI was performed on EC cells from antrum, duodenum, and proximal colon, fixed in glutaraldehyde only. In all three locations, the majority of the gold particles (90%) in EC cells were localized over the dense core of the secretory granules, while a minor fraction (10%) were localized in parts of the cytoplasm devoid of granules. In EC cells fixed in glutaraldehyde and post-fixed in osmium tetroxide, 5-HT-LI was reduced by about 85%, although intracellular distribution was essentially the same as in cells fixed in glutaraldehyde alone. The results indicate that 5-HT in EC cells is stored mainly in secretory granules, with a small fraction of 5-HT being localized outside the granules.


1989 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Fujimoto ◽  
N Araki ◽  
K S Ogawa ◽  
S Kondo ◽  
T Kitaoka ◽  
...  

Calmodulin (CaM) has been implicated as a multifunctional regulator of Ca2+ in the cytoplasm of cells. We have recently introduced biologically active colloidal gold-labeled CaM as a marker for identifying potential CaM binding sites (unoccupied by endogenous CaM at the time of fixation) by electron microscopy and have stained frozen thin sections of rat cardiac muscle with this conjugate. In the presence of Ca2+, gold particles indicating CaM binding sites were found localized on the sarcoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and gap junctions. Control tissue sections treated with EGTA or exposed to excess amounts of unlabeled native CaM before staining showed no binding. We believe that cytochemistry of potential CaM binding sites revealed by staining with labeled exogenous CaM is useful in correlating known biochemical reactions of CaM with particular cell activities.


1989 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Watanabe ◽  
M Watanabe ◽  
Y Ishii ◽  
H Matsuba ◽  
S Kimura ◽  
...  

To examine localization of cathepsin B, a representative lysosomal cysteine protease, in atrial myoendocrine cells of the rat heart, immunohistochemistry at the light and electron microscopic level was applied to the atrial tissue, using a monospecific antibody for rat liver cathepsin B. In serial semi-thin sections, immunoreactivity for cathepsin B and atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP) was detected in the para-nuclear region of atrial myoendocrine cells. Several large granules and many fine granules in the region of the cells were positively stained by the cathepsin B antibody. Gold particles indicating cathepsin B antigenicity labeled secretory granules in the cells, which were also labeled by those indicating ANP, using thin sections of the Lowicryl K4M-embedded material. Moreover, some granules labeled densely by immunogold particles for cathepsin B seemed to be lysosomes. By double immunostaining using thin sections of the Epon-embedded material, gold particles indicating cathepsin B and ANP antigenicities were co-localized in secretory granules of the cells. By enzyme assay, activity of cathepsin B was three times higher in atrial tissue than ventricular tissue. The results suggest that co-localization of cathepsin B and ANP in secretory granules is compatible with the possibility that cathepsin B participates in the maturation process of ANP.


1992 ◽  
Vol 40 (7) ◽  
pp. 919-930 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Ellinger ◽  
M Pavelka

Using lectin binding, we characterized subdomains of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) in goblet cells of the rat colon. In this cell type, special rER regions can be differentiated on the basis of their content of low electron density and dilated cisternal spaces in conventional transmission electron microscopic preparations. The fine fibrillar content of these cisternal regions demonstrated high-affinity binding with lectins from wheat germ, Helix pomatia, Griffonia simplicifolia I-A4 and -B4, and Ricinus communis I, although not with the sialic acid-specific Limax flavus lectin and the fucose-binding Ulex europaeus I lectin. Sugar-inhibitory experiments indicated that glycoconjugates packed within these regions bound the lectins with higher affinity than molecules present in the Golgi apparatus and secretory granules. Furthermore, the lectin binding patterns of the rER subdomains differed from those of the Golgi apparatus and mucin granules: the terminal sugar residues sialic acid and fucose were demonstrable in the Golgi apparatus and mucin granules and were absent from the rER, while galactose-recognizing lectins bound intensely at these rER regions, weakly to Golgi elements, and were almost absent from mucin granules.


1987 ◽  
Vol 35 (10) ◽  
pp. 1149-1155 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Bendayan ◽  
N Benhamou

The enzyme-gold approach was applied for ultrastructural localization of glucoside residues in animal and plant tissues. A beta-glucosidase-gold complex was prepared and used on thin tissue sections to reveal the corresponding substrate molecules by electron microscopy. Conditions for preparation of the complex, as well as for its application, were determined. Once applied on thin tissue sections, the glucosidase-gold complex yielded labeling over the rough endoplasmic reticulum, mainly on the ribosomal side of the membranes, and over the dense chromatin in the nucleus. Mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, and secretory granules in liver and pancreatic cells were free of gold particles. In plant cells, the labeling pattern was similar. In addition, the stroma regions of chloroplasts were densely labeled. In the extracellular space, labeling was found over the basal laminae of cells in animal tissues and over the fibrillar wall material bordering the intercellular space in plant tissues. Fungal cell cytoplasm was also labeled, as well as the membrane delineating mycoplasma-like organisms. Control conditions confirmed these labelings, demonstrating the possibility of revealing glucoside residues on tissue sections with high resolution and specificity.


1986 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 899-907 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Yokota ◽  
H Tsuji ◽  
K Kato

Thin sections of Lowicryl K4M-embedded materials were labeled with protein A-gold complex. Gold particles representing the antigen sites for cathepsin B were exclusively confined to lysosomes of each segment of the nephron. The heaviest labeling was noted in the lysosomes of the S1 segment of the proximal tubules. Labeling intensity varied considerably with the individual lysosomes. Lysosomes of the other tubular segments, such as the S2 and S3 segments of the proximal tubules, distal convoluted tubules, and collecting tubules were weakly labeled by gold particles. Quantitative analysis of labeling density also confirmed that lysosomes in the S1 segment have the highest labeling density and that approximately 65% of labeling in the whole renal segments, except for the glomerulus, was found in the S1 segment. These results indicate that in rat kidney the lysosomes of the S1 segment are a main location of cathepsin B. Further precise observations on lysosomes of the S1 segment revealed that apical vesicles, tubules, and vacuoles were devoid of gold particles, but when the vacuoles contained fine fibrillar materials, gold labeling was detectable in such vacuoles. As the lysosomal matrix becomes denser, the labeling density is increased. Some small vesicles around the Golgi complex were also labeled. These results indicate that the endocytotic apparatus including the apical vesicles, tubules, and vacuoles contains no cathepsin B. When the vacuoles develop into phagosomes, they acquire this enzyme to digest the absorbed proteins.


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