The ultrastructure of centriole in mammalian tissue culture cells

Structural polarity of centriole has been shown by analyzing serial sections of centrioles in the tissue culture cells of mouse, man, pig and Chinese hamster. Its major component is nine microtubule triplets. The inclination of the triplets towards the radius at the proximal end of the centriole is smaller than at the distal one. The internal tubule of the triplet has a smaller diameter than the middle and external ones; The triplets are bound by links of various nature all over their length. In the middle part, in the centriole lumen there is an amorphous hub; in the distal part, a thin fibre that is helically wound. In the proximal part, there are bases along the triplets, and handles stretch from the internal tubules. In the middle and distal parts, there are accumulations of an electron dense substance along the middle tubules. At the distal end, the centriole lumen is filled with an amorphous substance, whereas the proximal end is free from it. From outside, appendages are attached to the triplets at the distal end. The centriole structure is identical in all the cell types studied, except for those of Chinese hamster.