CONFOCAL ANALYSIS OF PRIMARY CILIA STRUCTURE AND COLOCALIZATION WITH THE GOLGI-APPARATUS IN CHONDROCYTES AND AORTIC SMOOTH-MUSCLE CELLS

Detyrosinated and acetylated a-tubulins represent a stable pool of tub ulin typically associated with microtubules of the centrosome and prim ary cilium of eukaryotic cells. Although primary cilium-centrosome and centrosome-Golgi relationships have been identified independently, th e precise structural relationship between the primary cilium and Golgi has yet to be specifically defined. Confocal immunohistochemistry was used to localize detyrosinated (ID5) and acetylated (6-11B-1) tubulin antibodies in primary cilia of chondrocytes and smooth muscle cells, and to demonstrate their relationship to the Golgi complex identified by complementary lectin staining with wheat germ agglutinin. The resul ts demonstrate the distribution and inherent structural variation of p rimary cilia tubulins, and the anatomical interrelationship between th e primary cilium, the Golgi apparatus and the nucleus. We suggest that these interrelationships may form part of a functional feedback mecha nism which could facilitate the directed secretion of newly synthesize d connective tissue macromolecules. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.