Cytochemical localisation of lysosomal enzymes and acidic mucopolysaccharides in the salivary glands of Aplysia depilans (Opisthobranchia).

Three types of secretory cells were reported in the salivary glands of Aplysia depilans: granular cells, vacuolated cells and mucocytes. To improve the characterisation of these cells, cytochemical methods for the detection of lysosomal enzymes and acidic mucopolysaccharides were applied. In granular cells, acid phosphatase and arylsulphatase were present in small lysosomes and in some secretory granules. The secretory granules could have received these enzymes after fusion with the small lysosomes that were frequently found very close to them. These cells were not stained with colloidal iron because they do not contain acidic mucopolysaccharides. In vacuolated cells, acid phosphatase and arylsulphatase were detected in lysosomes but not in the secretory vacuoles. Colloidal iron staining revealed the presence of acidic mucopolysaccharides in the vacuoles and in the Golgi apparatus of these cells. In mucocytes, lysosomes were very rare, but the secretion of these cells was very rich in acidic mucopolysaccharides. The filamentous network within the secretory vesicles was completely covered with iron particles, but practically no particles were observed over the granular masses attached to the membrane of the vesicles. Iron particles were also found in the trans-face cisternae of the U-shaped Golgi stacks, but were not seen in the cis-face cisternae or in the rough endoplasmic reticulum.