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Distribution of microtubules in prolactin cells of lactating rats

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Summary

The intracellular distribution of microtubules was studied using serial sections of prolactin cells in anterior pituitary glands from lactating rats. Numerous microtubules were present in these cells following fixation with glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide. The greatest number of microtubules were present in the Golgi complex, situated around the perimeter and in association with the cisternae, vesicles and developing secretory granules. Microtubules were found in channels between groups of parallel cisternae of rough surfaced endoplasmic reticulum and in close proximity to small vesicles. They were also located adjacent to mitochondria, the plasmalemma, the nuclear envelope, and among mature secretory granules. Due to their orientation within the cell, it is suggested that the microtubules may act to direct the movement of organelles from one region of the cell to another and to give internal support to the cell.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, The University of Texas, Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA

    Jerzy B. Warchol, Damon C. Herbert, M. Glenn Williams &  Edward G. Rennels

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  1. Jerzy B. Warchol
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  2. Damon C. Herbert
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  3. M. Glenn Williams
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  4. Edward G. Rennels
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Fogarty International Fellow, University of Poznan, Poland.

This investigation was supported by the National Institutes of Health grants AM 12583 and TW02023.

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Warchol, J.B., Herbert, D.C., Williams, M.G. et al. Distribution of microtubules in prolactin cells of lactating rats. Cell Tissue Res. 159, 205–212 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219156

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219156

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