Trophozoites of Giardia lamblia may have a Golgi-like structure

Trophozoites of the primitive protozoan Giardia lamblia have been considere d as cells which do trot present the Golgi complex. Using C-6-NBD ceramide, which has been shown to label the Golgi complex of mammalian cells, labell ing of the perinuclear region of G. lamblia was observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy of thin sections and of replicas of freeze-fractured cells revealed the presence of concentric p erinuclear membranes resembling the Golgi complex. (C) 1999 Federation of E uropean Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V, All r ights reserved.