Mucus formation in goblet cells

Abstract

The formation of mucus in goblet cells and its relation to the Golgi apparatus has been studied by various workers. Nassanow (1923) showed clearly that the mucin granules in the goblet cells of Triton originated in the Golgi apparatus, and so brought secretion in these cells into line with his theory of the bound secretion. More recently Clara (1926) has shown in the goblet cells of birds that the mucin first appears in the region next to the nucleus, between it and the gland lumen. Florey (1932, a, b ) has considered this more extensively in two recent papers, and for a number of mammals has shown that the mucin granules of goblet cells first form in the meshes of the Golgi network. In epithelial cells of the mouse vagina, undergoing conversion into mucous cells, he has found that the same process occurs. In a recent investigation of secretory formation in the salivary glands and pancreas it was found by the present author that in every cell type examined the young secretory granules first appeared in the basal region of the cell in relation to the mitochondria. Subsequent emigration occurred into the Golgi zone, where they underwent conversion into mature secretory granules. In the mucous cells of the salivary glands it was shown that these newly formed granules might be stained intravitam by Janus green or neutral red, and that in fixed preparations they stained selectively with acid fuchsin as described by Noll (1902), In the light of this work it appeared probable that while mucin formation might occur in the Golgi zone of the goblet cells as described by these authors, the origin of the granules might lie in the basal region of the cell.