Intercellular organelle traffic through cytoplasmic bridges in early spermatids of the rat: mechanisms of haploid gene product sharing.

ABSTRACT: Stable cytoplasmic bridges (or ring canals) connecting the clone of spermatids are assumed to facilitate the sharing of haploid gene products and synchronous development of the cells. We have visualized these cytoplasmic bridges under phase-contrast optics and recorded the sharing of cytoplasmic material between the spermatids by a digital time-lapse imaging system ex vivo. A multitude of small (ca. 0.5 microm) granules were seen to move continuously over the bridges, but only 28% of those entering the bridge were actually transported into other cell. The average speed of the granules decreased significantly during the passage. Immunocytochemistry revealed that some of the shared granules contained haploid cell-specific gene product TRA54. We also demonstrate the novel function for the Gol

SUBMITTER: Ventela S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC165675 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature