Radioautographic Comparison of the Uptake of Galactose-h3 and Glucose-h3 in the Golgi Region of Various Cells Secreting Glycoproteins or Mucopolysaccharides

The radioautographic distribution of the label of galactose-H(3) was compared with that of glucose-H(3) in a series of secretory cells of the rat. Whereas the glucose label appeared in all mucous cells, the galactose label was incorporated only into certain mucous cells. Whenever either label was incorporated, however, it was located first in the Golgi region and later in the secretion product, mucus. Several lines of evidence, including extraction of glucose label with peracetic acid-beta glucuronidase, indicated that the material synthesized in the Golgi region was glycoprotein in nature. In chondrocytes, both the galactose and the glucose label appeared first in the Golgi region and later in cartilage matrix; extraction of glucose label with hyaluronidase indicated that much of it consisted of mucopolysaccharide. In all secretory cells, the extraction of glycogen by amylase had no effect on Golgi radioactivity. Such extraction did not eliminate the scattered cytoplasmic label also seen after glucose-H(3) injection, but completely eliminated that seen after galactose-H(3). Consequently, the galactose-H(3) label in the Golgi region stood out more clearly, and was detected in many cells: pancreas, liver, epididymis, and intestinal columnar cells. In the latter, label later appeared in the surface coat. Thus, radioautography after injection of galactose-H(3), as after glucose-H(3), indicates that synthesis of complex carbohydrates takes place in the Golgi region of many secretory cells.