Effect of chloroquine on low-density lipoprotein catabolic pathway in rat hepatocytes

Injection of 125I-low-density lipoprotein (LDL) into estradiol-treated rats substantially increases the volume of the multivesicular body compartment in hepatocytes. When these animals were additionally given chloroquine 60 and 120 min before injection of 125I-LDL, the amount of 125I retained by the liver increased threefold and the amount of label in multivesicular bodies increased fivefold, as determined by quantitative analysis of autoradiograms. Lamellar inclusions that appeared after chloroquine also contained a substantial fraction of 125I, whereas the fraction of 125I in secondary lysosomes was reduced. From these data it is concluded that the multivesicular bodies comprise an intermediate endocytic compartment, the conversion of which to secondary lysosomes is impeded by chloroquine.