IN VIVO INCORPORATION OF 3H-GALACTOSE BY THYROID FOLLICULAR CELLS OF THE RAT, AS SHOWN BY ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC RADIOAUTOGRAPHY

Abstract

Radioactive galactose was injected intravenously into rats and localized in thyroid follicular cells by electron microscopic radioautography at intervals ranging from 2.5 to 30 min after injection. The galactose label was mostly present in the Golgi apparatus at 2.5 min, with some of it in the adjacent rough endoplasmic reticulum. By 30 min, the label was found in apical vesicles and colloid. It was concluded that galactose is added to the carbohydrate side chains of incomplete thyroglobulin molecules during their travel through the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum into the Golgi apparatus; the uptake begins as this organelle is approached, but predominates within it. The thyroglobulin molecule which has thus been labeled is transported by the apical vesicles to the colloid.