Synopsis
The ultrastructure of secretion granules in alpha and acinar cells in the splenic lobe of the pigeon pancreas was studied by freeze-etching, micro-X-ray analysis and cytochemistry.
The alpha cell has large vacuoles or lacunae into which dense granules are secreted. These lacunae may be formed by invaginations of the cell surface. The Golgi complex appears to be the site of formation of the alpha granules. Alpha granules often have attenuated processes indicating connections between them. Such processes and continuity were confirmed by freeze-etching studies.
In many acinar cells, the dark substance in the lumen and apical granules was in continuity. Zinc was detected in these two structures by micro X-ray analysis.
Some, but not all, granules exhibit ATPase and thiamine pyrophosphatase activities. The less-dense granules appeared to be the reactive type. ATPase was located on the luminal surface and, to a lesser extent, on the lateral and basal cell membranes. In contrast, thiamine pyrophosphatase on cell membranes was restricted to the luminal surface. Thiamine pyrophosphatase activity on the limiting membrane of the lessdense granule may indicate continuity of the granule with the lumen. Since the reactive granule is distributed throughout the cytoplasm, a channel from basal to apical portions may exist.
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Makita, T., Morimoto, M. & Kiwaki, S. The formation and continuity of secretion granules in the splenic lobe of the pigeon pancreas as revealed by freeze-etching, micro-X-ray analysis and cytochemistry. Histochem J 6, 185–198 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01011806
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01011806