Cytochemical localization of complex carbohydrates in the thyroid gland of normal and TSH-treated mice.
The silver methenamine method for the ultrastructural localization of carbohydrates and glycoproteins was applied to the thyroid glands of normal and TSH-treated mice. The majority of the cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum showed a weak, but apparently positive reaction. These findings support the opinion that glycosylation of thyroglobulin occurs initially in the rough endoplasmic reticulum. By this method the Golgi apparatus was observed to display a staining gradient. The intermediate to inner saccules were intensely stained, whereas the outer saccules were not so heavily stained. This phenomenon indicates that the Golgi apparatus has a functional polarity for the addition of carbohydrates to thyroglobulin and other proteins. In the inner and/or the peripheral regions of the Golgi apparatus and in the apical cytoplasm, a large number of globules of various sizes, considered to be colloid droplets, lysosomes and apical secreting vesicles, showed a positive reaction. The luminal colloid was also positive with silver methenamine staining, with almost the same intensity as the globules and vesicles.
D000818:Animals; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008297:Male; D008709:Methenamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D006023:Glycoproteins; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013972:Thyrotropin; D008709:Methenamine