Effects of colchicine on phagosome-lysosome interaction in retinal pigment epithelium. I. In vivo observations in albino rats. 1977

M L Beauchemin, and P M Leuenberger

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) from young albino rats was examined under light and electron microscope 2 1/2 to 16 h after intravenous injections of colchicine (0.5 mg per 100 gm body weight). One of the primary effects of colchicine treatment on the RPE is the appearance of extensive acPase-positive dense body aggregates in the Golgi area. The size of the aggregates and the disappearance of microtubules appear to be related to the length of time allowed for colchicine to react. Acid phosphatase (acPase) activity is localized on the dense body aggregates and is particularly evident at a light microscopic level, where it can be observed as darkly stained clumps. Dense bodies are only rarely seen in the immediate proximity of acPase-positive phagosomes in colchicine-treated animals. The results of these experiments suggest the existence of an intracellular transport mechanism for acPase-carrying dense bodies. This intracellular transport is inhibited by colchicine, being probably related to a block of microtubular assembly.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008247 Lysosomes A class of morphologically heterogeneous cytoplasmic particles in animal and plant tissues characterized by their content of hydrolytic enzymes and the structure-linked latency of these enzymes. The intracellular functions of lysosomes depend on their lytic potential. The single unit membrane of the lysosome acts as a barrier between the enzymes enclosed in the lysosome and the external substrate. The activity of the enzymes contained in lysosomes is limited or nil unless the vesicle in which they are enclosed is ruptured or undergoes MEMBRANE FUSION. (From Rieger et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th ed). Autolysosome,Autolysosomes,Lysosome
D010586 Phagocytes Cells that can carry out the process of PHAGOCYTOSIS. Phagocyte,Phagocytic Cell,Phagocytic Cells,Cell, Phagocytic,Cells, Phagocytic
D010587 Phagocytosis The engulfing and degradation of microorganisms; other cells that are dead, dying, or pathogenic; and foreign particles by phagocytic cells (PHAGOCYTES). Phagocytoses
D010857 Pigment Epithelium of Eye The layer of pigment-containing epithelial cells in the RETINA; the CILIARY BODY; and the IRIS in the eye. Eye Pigment Epithelium
D003078 Colchicine A major alkaloid from Colchicum autumnale L. and found also in other Colchicum species. Its primary therapeutic use is in the treatment of gout, but it has been used also in the therapy of familial Mediterranean fever (PERIODIC DISEASE). Colchicine, (+-)-Isomer,Colchicine, (R)-Isomer
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D051381 Rats The common name for the genus Rattus. Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus

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