ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Iodination
;
Membrane shedding
;
Peroxidase
;
Thyroid follicle cell
;
Ultrastructure
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Clusters of luminal dense bodies, limited by a triple-layered membrane, were found in all follicle lumina in thyroid glands of mice. After thyroxine treatment the number of luminal dense bodies increased, especially in the periphery of the lumen, where the intraluminal bodies often displayed a striking resemblance to microvilli. In hyperplastic goiters, obtained by feeding mice with propylthiouracil, luminal dense bodies were replaced by intraluminal vesicles. During goiter involution the vesicles were gradually replaced by luminal dense bodies; the presence of intermediate forms suggests that vesicles and dense bodies are basically the same formations. Luminal dense bodies were observed in colloid droplets indicating their removal by endocytosis. As demonstrated by electron-microscopic cytochemistry, luminal dense bodies contain a membranebound peroxidase, and electron-microscopic autoradiography after administration of 125I indicate that they possess an iodinating capacity. Our observations on mouse thyroid glands suggest that the luminal dense bodies, which appear as vesicles in hyperplastic glands, are formed by shedding of the apical plasma membrane of the follicle cell. The shedding process might be of importance for the turnover of plasma-membrane material.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00216517
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