Speculations based on the morphology of the Golgi systems in several types of proteinsecreting cells

Abstract

Electron microscopical observations on the relationship of the Golgi region to other intracellular organelles in certain protein-secreting cells have substantiated and extended existing hypotheses. In micrographs of several cell types, the juxtanuclear Golgi regions were observed to be closely associated with nuclear "pores." The "transition elements" of the ergastoplasmic membranes possess "blebs" which may represent a transport process facilitating the movement of intracisternal contents into the Golgi zone. A "blebbing" process of this nature may be one source of the small variety of Golgi vesicles. Zymogen granules of different densities were observed and their significance was postulated. Light Golgi vacuoles were observed. It is suggested that these vacuoles represent accumulations of relatively fluid material segregated from the secretory product in these cell types. These hypotheses from inferential evidence are discussed and extended.