Protamine induced intracellular uptake of horseradish peroxidase and vacuolation in mouse skeletal muscle in vitro.

The uptake in vitro of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in mouse skeletal muscle was examined by electron microscopy and chemical determination. In muscles exposed to an HRP solution for 60 min at +37 degrees C, HRP infiltrated the basal lamina of muscle fibres and caused an intense labelling of their sarcolemma. In addition HRP was found within the transverse tubules. Exposure to HRP for 30 min at +37 degrees C followed by HRP together with a polycationic protein (protamine) for 30 min at +37 degrees C caused an intracellular vesicular uptake of HRP. Intracellular HRP was found in numerous vesicles, membrane limited bodies and vacuoles. Protamine also induced focal autophagic vacuolation with progressive muscle fibre degeneration. An intracellular HRP uptake or muscle cell vacuolation could not be detected in the absence of protamine or when the incubation temperature was +4 degrees C. Chemical determination of HRP uptake was in general agreement with the morphological results. The uptake of HRP in the presence of protamine was stimulated at +37 degrees C and blocked at +4 degrees C. The results suggest that in skeletal muscle in vitro intracellular uptake of macromolecules occurs by endocytosis.