An electron microscopic radioautographic study of collagen secretion in periodontal ligament fibroblasts of the mouse: I. Normal fibroblasts.

Analysis of electron microscopic radioautographs revealed a maximum labeling with 3H-proline of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) at 3 minutes, Golgi saccules 1 and 2 at 10 minutes, Golgi saccules type 3 at 20 minutes, and presecretory and secretory granules at 30 minutes. Labeling of the extra-cellular collagen matrix occurred at 30 minutes and increased with time. These observations suggest that pro-a-chains of collagen in periodontal ligament fibroblasts are synthesized in the RER and transported to the Golgi apparatus within 10 minutes. These chains then undergo parallel alignment in Golgi saccules type 2 and form segment-long-spacing-like crystallites in Golgi saccules type 3 between 10 and 20 minutes. The peak labeling of presecretory granules and mature secretory granules in small amounts at 30 minutes and the rapid increase in labeling of extracellular collagen matrix which begins at 30 minutes, indicates that the formation of secretory granules requires approximately 30 minutes and that a rapid system of secretory granule translocation exists in periodontal ligament fibroblasts. This evidence further supports the previously published morphologic evidence for a microtubule-dependent system of collagen secretion in periodontal ligament fibroblasts (Cho and Garant, 1981b).