Journal of Electron Microscopy 48(1): 47-53 (1999)
© 1999 Oxford University Press
IgG transcytosis is accelerated but its pathway is not disrupted by Brefeldin-A
School of Nursing, Yamaguchi Prefectural University Miyano-Shimo, Yamaguchi 753-0011, Japan E-mail: ichimura{at}kanl.yamaguchi-pu.ac.jp
To see the action of Brefeldin-A (Bref-A) to transcytosis of the immunoglob-ulin G (IgG), we have examined the early stage of endocytosis and intracellular transport of IgG and transferrin (Tf) in epithelial cells of the rat yolk sac in culture with and without Bref-A. In the absence of Bref-A, the endocytosed IgG and Tf appeared in large apical endosomes during the first 5-15 min. At 15 min Tf-recycling endosomes and IgG-transferring vesicles also appeared in the apical or basolateral cytoplasm, respectively. At 15 min in the presence of Bref-A, clouds of Tf-recycling endosomes accumulated in the apical cytoplasm, while distinct IgG-transferring vesicles were distributed further to the basolateral cytoplasm. This differential action of Bref-A to IgG-transferring vesicles and Tf-recycling vesicles suggested an unexplored mechanism of sorting and basolateral transport of IgG.
Keywords yolk sac, IgG, transcytosis, transferrin, recycling, Brefeldin-A
Received 16 July 1998, accepted 18 September 1998