Trophozoites of Giardia lamblia may have a Golgi-like structure.

Trophozoites of the primitive protozoan Giardia lamblia have been considered as cells which do not present the Golgi complex. Using C(6)-NBD ceramide, which has been shown to label the Golgi complex of mammalian cells, labelling 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 perinuclear membranes resembling the Golgi complex.