Endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi-like elements in Entamoeba

Abstract

The cytoplasm of Entamoeba is characterized by the presence of a large number of vesicles of different size and shape. Previous electron microscopic studies have not clearly revealed the presence of the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex. In the present study two approaches were used aimed at the identification of these two structures in trophozoites of Entamoeba moshkovskii and Entamoeba histolytica: (a) cytochemical techniques associated with transmission electron microscopy, such as osmium tetroxide-zinc iodide, localization of glucose-6-phosphatase and thiaminopyro-phosphatase, and (b) labeling of the structures with the fluorescent dyes DiOC6 and C6-NBD ceramide followed by visualization of the labeled cells by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Our observations suggest that some of the cytoplasmic vacuoles may correspond to components of the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex of Entamoeba.