Formation of secretory granules in the Golgi apparatus of prolactin cells in the rat pituitary gland: a stereoscopic study.

The mode of secretory granule formation in prolactin cells was analyzed in thin or thick sections of pituitary glands from non-lactating or lactating female as well as from male rats. In all these animals, the Golgi apparatus of prolacting cells consists of a continuous twisted ribbon-like structure that branches and anastomoses to form a hollow sphere located in the juxtanuclear area. The early signs of secretory granule formation are observed along the trans-aspect of the Golgi ribbon where progranules appear as focal distensions simultaneously occurring anywhere in the last trans thiamine pyrophosphatase (TPPase)-containing Golgi element. In the transmost Golgi saccule, such dilatations usually contain several nodular masses of electron opaque material which are separated from each other and from the saccular membrane by a less intensely stained material. While this transmost saccule becomes more fenestrated, its focal polynodular distensions seemingly yield polynodular tubular progranules which are initially closely apposed and usually parallel to the trans face of the Golgi ribbon. Subsequently, these progranules, which frequently show small membranous tubules or tubular networks attached to them, are seen some distance from the Golgi stacks and progressively transform into the more compact polymorphous granules characteristic of prolactin cells. These observations suggest that the polynodular tubular progranules arise by fragmentation of portions of the trans-Golgi elements rather than by fusion of small uninodular granules budding from the edges of a trans-Golgi saccule. Once the progranules have been liberated, the rest of the transmost Golgi element appears to break down into small residual networks, tubules, and vesicles. Thus, in prolactin cells as in other glandular cells, the whole transmost Golgi element would fragment during formation of prosecretory granules.