A three-dimensional reconstruction study of the rough ER-Golgi interface in serial thin sections of the pancreatic acinar cell of the rat.

Distinctive views of the tubulo-vesicular elements interposed between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus were obtained in thin sections. The tubules that protrude from the transitional rough ER (tRER) are of dissimilar length. The numbers of tubules and of the nearby omega- and pear-shaped profiles decrease after fasting and are partially restored by refeeding. This formation is designated herein as the budding chamber of the tRER. Close to the budding chamber, clusters of 56 nm diameter vesicles are consistently observed. In some of the cells, convoluted tubules appear enmeshed with the presumptive transport vesicles of 56 nm diameter and with irregular, vesicular formations. Apparently structureless, electron-lucent ellipsoidal areas are found adjacent to these membranous elements. Serial and semi-serial sections show that the budding chamber, the sinuous tubules, the irregular vesicles, the structureless regions and the 56 nm vesicles fill tunnel-like spaces limited by the outermost Golgi cisterna (OGC) on one side and by the tRER on the other. Curved tubules appear to link the lumen of the OGC with that of smooth membranous occupants of these tunnel-like spaces. A presumptive luminal connection between these membranous occupants and the tubules of the budding chamber can also be seen. The predominant configuration of the OGC is that of a perforated, flat saccule. However, OGC regions exhibiting progressively lower densities of fenestrae, including smooth surfaced sectors eventually accumulating an intraluminal content are seen. Two such dilated, saccular portions of the OGC were analyzed through reconstruction of serial sections. Bundles of microtubules run closely apposed to the cis side of the OGC.