acid-phosphatase and Vitamin-A-Deficiency

The effect of vitamin A-deficiency on the structural integrity of lysosomes in the skeletal muscle and skin of Heteropneustes fossilis, a dehydroretinol-rich freshwater siluroid used in pisciculture, has been evaluated. Dietary stress was found to cause enhanced release of acid hydrolases from both skeletal muscle and skin tissues. The results indicate that the regulation of lysosomal membrane stability in these tissues is a function of vitamin A.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animal Feed; Animals; Arylsulfatases; Catfishes; Cathepsin B; Cathepsin H; Cathepsins; Cell Membrane Permeability; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Fish Diseases; Glucuronidase; Hydrolases; Liver; Lysosomes; Muscle, Skeletal; Skin; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency

Ultracytochemical studies of the performic acid-phosphotungstic acid (PFP) reaction and acid phosphatase (ACPase) activity in the Ito cells (fat-storing cells) of the rat liver revealed two kinds of lipid droplets: one surrounded by a structure giving PFP- and ACPase-positive reactions, recognized as a lysosome, the other without such a reactive structure displaying a limiting membrane. To elucidate the function of the lysosomes surrounding lipid droplets, experiments were carried out on the following groups of animals: (1) Vitamin A-deficient rats were fed a normal diet containing vitamin A, and (2) hypervitaminosis A was experimentally induced in previously untreated rats. Lipid droplets were studied in both groups. No lipid droplets reappearing in an early stage after restoration of the regular diet were either membrane-bounded or surrounded by lysosomes. Lipid droplets surrounded by lysosomes could be seen in rats fully restored from vitamin-A deficiency and more frequently in animals suffering from hypervitaminosis A. It seems likely that as a result of the lysosomal activity in the immediate vicinity of the lipid droplets a degradation of the vitamin A-containing lipid droplets takes place in the Ito cells. Therefore, the lysosome-surrounded lipid droplets can be regarded as a sort of autophagolysosome; these lysosomes may play a role in preventing an unrestricted increase in the number and volume of lipid droplets.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Female; Formates; Lipids; Liver; Lysosomes; Phosphotungstic Acid; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Vitamin A Deficiency

Effects of dietary vitamin A deficiency and excess on Golgi apparatus architecture were determined for livers of male CDF rats. In deficient animals, Golgi apparatus stacks were reduced in diameter and characterized by small, often highly fenestrated, saccules. Total membrane surface occupied by Golgi apparatus membranes also was less. Golgi apparatus of livers of animals receiving vitamin A in excess were more variable ranging from nearly normal appearance to much larger than normal. Saccules were larger and lacked the numerous fenestrations shown by Gol;gi apparatus of vitamin A deficient animals. Numbers and appearance of secretory vesicles and total number of small vesicular profiles were unaffected by vitamin A status of the animal. Unusual cisternal configurations were encountered much more frequent at the mature face of Golgi apparatus of animals fed vitamin A excess than in animals receiving adequate vitamin A and were absent from Golgi apparatus of animals receiving no vitamin A. Except for slightly swollen mitochondria and a loss of the "zone of exclusion" surrounding the nucleus, both observed in vitamin A excess, the Golgi apparatus response was the only ultrastructural alteration in liver that responded consistently to changes in vitamin A status.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Golgi Apparatus; Intracellular Membranes; Lysosomes; Male; Microscopy, Electron; Mitochondria, Liver; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency

A significant decrease in total carbohydrates and particularly in mannose, galactose and sialic acid has been observed in vitamin A-deficient rat liver lysosomal membrane. These alterations adversely affect the membrane permeability and structure-linked latency of the lysosomal enzymes. Significant reduction in the pH-dependent in vitro binding of the lysosomal arylsulfatase B to the highly purified membrane has been observed in vitamin A deficiency. This is attributed to the decrease in electro-negativity, mainly due to the observed reduction in negatively-charged sialic acid residues on the outer side of the membrane. Similar reduction in sialic acid content on the inner side of the membrane affects the microenvironment in the lysosomes. Intralysosomal pH, measured by computing the proteolytic activity of lysed lysosomes and of phagolysosomes, endocytosed with denatured 131I-labelled human serum albumin, is slightly consistently higher in vitamin A-deficient groups compared to that in control alone. This is reflected in the low rate of degradation of the entrapped proteins in vitamin A deficiency. The possible physiological significance of the observations is discussed with special reference to the loss of surface carbohydrates, particularly sialic acid, in vitamin A-deficient rats.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Chondro-4-Sulfatase; Galactose; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; In Vitro Techniques; Intracellular Membranes; Liver; Lysosomes; Male; Mannose; Rats; Sialic Acids; Vitamin A Deficiency

Thyroid glands from female rats kept vitamin A deficient for one, two, and three months were examined by electron microscopy. After one month on the diet, no consistent alterations were noted. After two months, the colloid in some follicles displayed a peripheral zone of decreased density. In addition, ultimobranchial follicles within the gland had become keratinized. After two to three months on the diet, cells were seen entering the colloid. Many of these cells were identified as follicular cells since they often occurred in groups and occasionally exhibited remnants of desmosomes. Often the cells within the colloid appeared vacuolated, and by light microscopy were thought to contain lipid. However, electron microscopy revealed that these cells contained many digestive vacuoles rather than lipid droplets. Quantitative and autoradiographic studies indicated that thyroids of vitamin A deficient rats took up less radioiodide than thyroids of control rats. The keratinization of ultimorbranchial follicles in vitamin-A deficiency has been suggested as preliminary in the histogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma. However, an effect of vitamin A deficiency on thyroid follicular cells has not heretofore been reported. It's possible that the presence of follicular cells in the colloid reflects an accelerated turnover of these cells and could indicate an early pathological sign.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Autoradiography; Female; Iodine; Iodine Radioisotopes; Rats; Thyroid Gland; Vitamin A Deficiency

Ultrastructural changes in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and adjacent photoreceptor cells have been followed in the Wistar rat during the course of long-term vitamin A deficiency. Of particular interest has been the discovery of unusual concentric aggregates within the photoreceptor outer segments and the inner cytoplasm of the RPE. The aggregates were present throughout the course of the retinal degeneration induced by vitamin A deficiency and could be identified in the RPE either by themselves in the apical cytoplasm or within phagolysosomes. It is postulated that the concentric aggregates result initially from abnormal formation or condensation of outer segment membranes and are then slowly degraded by lysosomal action in the RPE cytoplasm. In addition, acid phosphatase activity and typical phagosomes (shed outer segment packets) have been demonstrated in the cytoplasm of the RPE of the vitamin A deficient rats. The latter findings indicate that, at least to some extent, the normal phagocytic and lytic processes of the RPE are retained in this nutritional disorder.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Cytoplasm; Female; Lysosomes; Male; Phagocytosis; Photoreceptor Cells; Pigment Epithelium of Eye; Rats; Retinal Degeneration; Time Factors; Vitamin A Deficiency

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Cathepsins; Chediak-Higashi Syndrome; Cyclic AMP; Dermatitis; Fabry Disease; Humans; Keratins; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Lysosomes; Psoriasis; Skin; Ultraviolet Rays; Vacuoles; Vitamin A Deficiency

Ultrastructural changes in the prepubertal human prostatic epithelium maintained in vitro are described and are compared with the ultrastructure of the same tissue before culture. In cultured cells, rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex are poorly represented and the latter also loses its polarity. Increase in cytoplasmic microfilaments is discussed in relation to possible vitamin A deficiency. Primary and secondary lysosomes, arising from autophagy and endocytosis, occur in large numbers as autophagosomes, myelin figures, residual bodies, and multivesicular bodies. Prostatic acid phosphatase activity, an important secondary sex characteristic, is influenced by sex hormones and malignancy; since this enzyme is lysosome-associated, special emphasis is placed on lysosomal changes. Some ultrastructural changes in rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex, and the lysosomal system are similar to those observed after castration. This study presents ultrastructure of cultured cells which form the basis for studies involving neoplastic transformation, aging, and hormonal manipulation using an in vitro model. This is necessitated by the absence of an in vivo animal model for prostatic neoplasia; hence studies on prostatic oncogenesis, and age-related phenomenon, must be done on cells in vitro. Significance of this study is enhanced by the fact that normal human prepubertal prostate has not been studied before and normal viable prostate is generally not available for investigations.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Aging; Cell Nucleus; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Cells, Cultured; Cytoplasm; Cytoplasmic Granules; Desmosomes; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Epithelial Cells; Epithelium; Golgi Apparatus; Humans; Lysosomes; Male; Microbodies; Microtubules; Mitochondria; Prostate; Vitamin A Deficiency

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adenosine Monophosphate; Alkaline Phosphatase; Animals; Bone Development; Cartilage; Chickens; Disease Models, Animal; Epiphyses; Osteogenesis; Phosphates; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; Pyrophosphatases; Vitamin A Deficiency

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Catalase; Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; Male; Organoids; Rats; Testis; Vitamin A Deficiency

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Esterases; Histocytochemistry; Keratins; Keratosis; Male; Mouth Diseases; Mouth Mucosa; Muramidase; Rats; Sulfhydryl Compounds; Sulfides; Vitamin A Deficiency

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Alkaline Phosphatase; Animals; Cartilage; Cell Membrane; Colon; Connective Tissue; Connective Tissue Cells; Epiphyses; Glucuronidase; Glycosaminoglycans; Glycoside Hydrolases; Hexosamines; Histocytochemistry; Kidney; Lipids; Liver; Lysosomes; Rats; Sublingual Gland; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adrenal Glands; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Atrophy; Body Weight; Deoxyribonucleases; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hydrolases; Liver; Male; Organ Size; Rats; Testicular Diseases; Testis; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Basement Membrane; Castration; Cytoplasm; Diet; Epithelium; Lysosomes; Mouth Mucosa; Rats; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Epithelium; Gingiva; Glycosaminoglycans; Histocytochemistry; Mouth Mucosa; Rats; Succinate Dehydrogenase; Tooth Germ; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Colon; Ethanol; Glucuronidase; In Vitro Techniques; Liver; Lysosomes; Male; Membranes; Prothrombin Time; Rats; Sulfatases; Ultracentrifugation; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Vitamin E; Vitamin K

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Child, Preschool; Diet; Humans; India; Infant; Infections; Injections, Intramuscular; Kwashiorkor; Lysosomes; Sulfatases; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency