Summary
The lysosomal system of the two types of synoviocytes (A and S) from the knee joint of normal rat synovial membrane was studied by electron-microscopic acid phosphatase cytochemistry. In random sections of the synovial intima lysosomes were more often encountered in the A-cell profiles than in the S-cell profiles. Characteristically, type-A synoviocytes showed many large and medium-sized lysosomes the cytochemical appearance of which varied considerably. No acid phosphatase activity was detectable in the cisternae of the Golgi apparatus or in the Golgi vesicles. In type-S synoviocytes the lysosomes were smaller, and more uniform in cytochemical appearance. Heavy deposits of acid phosphatase reaction product were constantly demonstrated in cisternae of the Golgi apparatus as well as in smooth-walled Golgi vesicles in type-S cells. The findings that type-A and type-S synoviocytes show distinctly different organization of the lysosomal system indicate that the roles of the lysosomes in these two types of cells may be different.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bainton DF (1981) The discovery of lysosomes. J Cell Biol 91:66s-76s
Ball J, Chapman JA, Muirden KD (1964) The uptake of iron in rabbit synovial tissue following intra-articular injection of iron dextran. J Cell Biol 22:351–364
Barka T, Anderson PJ (1962) Histochemical methods for acid phosphatase using hexazonium pararosanilin as coupler. J Histochem Cytochem 10:741–753
Barland P, Novikoff AB, Hamerman D (1964) Fine structure and cytochemistry of the rheumatoid synovial membrane, with special reference to lysosomes. Am J Pathol 44:853–866
Bitensky L (1978) Lysosomes and the connective tissue diseases. J Clin Pathol Suppl. 12:105–116
Cohn ZA, Fedorko ME (1969) The formation and fate of lysosomes. In: Dingle JT, Fell HB (eds) Lysosomes in biology and pathology. Vol. 1. North-Holland Publishing Co. Amsterdam, p 43
Davies P, Allison AC (1976) Secretion of macrophage enzymes in relation to the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation. In: Nelson DS (ed) Immunobiology of the macrophage. Academic Press, New York, p 427
Duve C de, Wattiaux R (1966) Functions of lysosomes. Ann Rev Physiol 28:435–492
Farquhar MG (1969) Lysosome function in regulating secretion: disposal of secretory granules in cells of the anterior pituitary gland. In: Dingle JT, Fell HB (eds) Lysosomes in biology and pathology. Vol. 2. North-Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam, p 462
Farquhar MG, Palade GE (1981) The Golgi apparatus (Complex) — (1954–1981) — from artifact to center stage. J Cell Biol 91:77s-103s
Friend DS, Farquhar MG (1967) Functions of coated vesicles during protein absorption in the rat vas deferens. J Cell Biol 35:357–376
Graabæk PM (1982) Ultrastructural evidence for two distinct types of synoviocytes in rat synovial membrane. J Ultrastruct Res 78:321–339
Graabæk PM (1984) Characteristics of the two types of synoviocytes in rat synovial membrane. An ultrastructural study. Lab Invest 50:690–720
Lack CH (1969) Lysosomes in relation to arthritis. In: Dingle JT, Fell HB (eds) Lysosomes in biology and pathology. Vol. 1. North-Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam, p 493
Linck G, Porte A (1978) B-cells of the synovial membrane. I. A comparative ultrastructural study in some mammals. Cell Tissue Res 187:251–261
Novikoff AB (1963) Lysosomes in the physiology and pathology of cells: Contributions of staining methods. In: de Reuck AVS, Cameron MP (eds) Ciba Foundation Symposium on lysosomes. Little, Brown and Co., Boston, p 36
Osinchak J (1964) Electron microscopic localization of acid phosphatase and thiamine pyrophosphatase activity in hypothalamic neurosecretory cells of the rat. J Cell Biol 21:35–47
Page Thomas DP (1969) Lysosomal enzymes in experimental and rheumatoid arthritis. In: Dingle JT, Fell HB (eds) Lysosomes in biology and pathology. Vol. 2. North-Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam, p 87
Shannon SL, Graham RC (1971) Protein uptake by synovial cells. I. Ultrastructural study of the fate of intraarticularly injected peroxidases. J Histochem Cytochem 19:29–42
Smith RE, Farquhar MG (1966) Lysosome function in the regulation of the secretory process in the cells of the anterior pituitary gland. J Cell Biol 31:319–347
Southwick WO, Bensch KG (1971) Phagocytosis of colloidal gold by cells of synovial membrane. J Bone Joint Surg 53 A:729–741
Unanue ER, Cerottini JC (1970) The function of macrophages in the immune response. Seminars in Hematology 7:225–248
Wassilev WA (1975) Elektronenmikroskopischer Nachweis von saurer Phosphatase in der Synovialmcmbran der Ratte. Compt Rend Ac Bul Sci 28:411–414
Weissmann G (1972) Lysosomal mechanisms of tissue injury in arthritis. New Eng J Med 286:141–147
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Graabæk, P.M. Fine structure of the lysosomes in the two types of synoviocytes of normal rat synovial membrane. Cell Tissue Res. 239, 293–298 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00218006
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00218006