ENDOPLASMIC-RETICULUM AND GOLGI-LIKE ELEMENTS IN ENTAMOEBA

The cytoplasm of Entamoeba is characterized by the presence of a large number of vesicles of different size and shape. Previous electron mic roscopic studies have not clearly revealed the presence of the endopla smic reticulum and the Golgi complex. In the present study two approac hes were used aimed at the identification of these two structures in t rophozoites of Entamoeba moshkovskii and Entamoeba histolytica: (a) cy tochemical techniques associated with transmission electron microscopy , such as osmium tetroxide-zinc iodide, localization of glucose-6-phos phatase and thiaminopyro-phosphatase, and (b) labeling of the structur es with the fluorescent dyes DiOC6 and C6-NBD ceramide followed by vis ualization of the labeled cells by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Our observations suggest that some of the cytoplasmic vacuoles may co rrespond to components of the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi comp lex of Entamoeba. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.