Effects of colchicine on endocytosis of horseradish peroxidase by rat peritoneal macrophages.

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was used as an exogenous marker to study the effects of microtubule-disruptive drugs on endocytosis in cultures of thioglycollate-elicited rat peritoneal macrophages. Colchicine and vinblastine, but not lumicolchicine or cytochalasin B, reduced HRP uptake by about 30-40%. However, as determined by stereological measurements, the size of the HRP-containing compartment within the cells remained unaltered. In both control cells and cells treated with colchicine or vinblastine the HRP-reactive vesicles were preferentially located close to the dictyosomes (stacks of cisternae) despite the fact that the Golgi complex was disorganized in the treated cells. These results suggest that intact cytoplasmic complex was disorganized in the treated cells. These results suggest that intact cytoplasmic microtubules are required to maintain a normal rate of fluid phase endocytosis in macrophages. On the other hand, it seems as if microtubules are not necessary for the translocation of newly formed endocytic vesicles/lysosomes to the dictyosomes, from which they probably are supplied with digestive enzymes.