Morphological and cytochemical studies on the secretory granules of the pyloric caeca of the starfish, Asterias amurensis

Biol Bull. 1977 Feb;152(1):64-74. doi: 10.2307/1540727.

Abstract

A fraction rich in secretory granules was prepared from the pyloric caeca of Asterias amurensis by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The freshly prepared fraction exhibited no casein-hydrolyzing activity, but showed nine times as much specific activity as that of tissue homogenates after incubation at 37 degrees C for thirty minutes. Electron microscopy showed that the secretory granules were membrane-bound granules measuring 0.5-2.0 mu in diameter and contained dense and/or light amorphous substances.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cecum / enzymology
  • Cecum / ultrastructure
  • Cell Fractionation
  • Enzyme Precursors / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Organoids / ultrastructure
  • Peptide Hydrolases / metabolism*
  • Pylorus / enzymology
  • Pylorus / ultrastructure
  • Starfish / anatomy & histology
  • Starfish / enzymology
  • Starfish / ultrastructure*

Substances

  • Enzyme Precursors
  • Peptide Hydrolases