Coated vesicles of liver Golgi apparatus increased by ascorbate

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Biochemistry
• Hepatology

Background:

• The Golgi apparatus is crucial for protein modification and transport.
• Coated vesicles mediate intracellular trafficking within the Golgi.
• Understanding cellular responses to nutrients like vitamin C is important.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of ascorbate (vitamin C) on the morphology of cultured hepatocytes and hepatoma cells.
• To quantify changes in coated vesicle numbers in response to ascorbate treatment.

Main Methods:

• Cultured hepatocytes and hepatoma cells were treated with 30 mM ascorbate for 10-30 minutes.
• Electron microscopy was used to visualize cellular structures.
• Quantitation of coated vesicles in the Golgi apparatus zone was performed from electron micrographs.

Main Results:

• A 2- to 3-fold increase in coated vesicles was observed in the Golgi apparatus zone after ascorbate treatment.
• This effect was consistent across various fixation conditions and specimen preparation methods.
• The optimal concentration for this effect was determined to be near 30 mM ascorbate.

Conclusions:

• Ascorbate (vitamin C) at 30 mM induces a significant increase in coated vesicles within the Golgi apparatus of liver cells.
• These findings highlight a specific cellular response of hepatocytes and hepatoma cells to vitamin C, potentially impacting intracellular transport mechanisms.