Studies on the Involvement of Lysosomes in Estrogen Action, II. Seasonal Variation in the Sedimentation Patterns of Endometrial Lysosomes from Prepuberal Pigs

Abstract

The lysosomal population in endometrial cells of prepuberal pigs varies with the seasons. In summertime, lysosomes equilibrate in sucrose density gradients over a broad, dome-shaped area from P = 1.21 g/cm3 to P = 1.15 g/cm3. The winter pattern is characterized by a major sharp peak of aggregated lysosomes at P = 1.20 g/cm3, visible as a snowflurry-like band. The 2 extremes are linked by transition patterns in spring and fall. The possible correlation of this phenomenon to the seasonal fluctuations in the level of soluble cytoplasmic estrogen receptor is discussed.