Immunoelectron microscopic localization of sucrase-isomaltase in rat small intestine

The localization of rat small intestinal microvillous sucrase-isomaltase was studied by immunoelectron microscopy to investigate its intracellular transport to the microvillous membrane. At the same time, the usefulness of a rapid embedding method of tissues in Lowicryl K4M for immunocytochemistry of sucrase-isomaltase was examined. Sucrase-isomaltase was present not only in the microvillous membrane, but also in the apical vesicles and the apical plasma membrane invaginations. Negligible labeling was observed in the other portions of the absorptive cells. These findings suggest that the final step of intracellular transport of sucrase-isomaltase to the microvillous membrane is via smooth apical vesicles. The rapid immunoelectron microscopic method adopted in this study seemed to be a useful technique for the study of the intracellular localization of sucrase-isomaltase.