Endocytosis of cationized ferritin to vesicles in the Golgi region of the glomus cells dissociated from the adult rat carotid body.

Glomus cells were dissociated from the carotid bodies of adult rats by enzymatic digestion with collagenase. The cells were then incubated at 37 degrees C for 30 minutes to 3 hours in the continuous presence of cationized ferritin (CF) as a membrane marker and extracellular tracer to study the intracellular route of endocytosis in this cell type. After 30 minutes of incubation with CF, occasional solitary CF-containing vesicles were observed at the cell periphery and also in the Golgi region. After 2-3 hours of incubation with CF, cell viability was still preserved and CF-labeled vesicles were abundant in the Golgi region. CF particles were also seen in some vesicles having a dense core. The core of these labeled vesicles appeared to be less electron-dense than that of typical secretory granules. It is suggested that the Golgi apparatus is involved in membrane recycling in glomus cells and that the membrane is then possibly further transported to an immature type of storage vesicle for reusage.