We investigated the early and late changes of the Golgi region under the influence of the fungal metabolite brefeldin A (BFA) by electron microscopy and lectin cytochemistry using the beta-galactose-specific lectin from the beetle Allomyrina dichotoma (Allo A). In control cells, Allo-A reactions were confined to trans-Golgi elements, the trans-Golgi network, and to endosomes and lysosomes; the nuclear envelope and endoplasmic reticulum were consistently free of Allo A reactions. Our findings with cells from three different lines (i.e., HepG2 hepatoma cells, WI38 fibroblasts, and L132 embryonic lung cells) showed tubular-reticular transformations of the Golgi stacks as early as 30 sec after application of BFA. The transformations started at the cis side and proceeded rapidly; after only a few minutes the Golgi apparatus was no longer apparent as an individual entity. Simultaneously, giant tubules grew out of the Golgi region and traversed the cytoplasm over micrometer-long distances. In part, they were reactive for Allo A. Reactions for beta-galactose occurred in cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum after 4-5 min of BFA treatment; after 30 min the entire endoplasmic reticulum was intensely reactive for Allo A. At 5 min and later, the tubular-reticular transformations appeared more compact, forming glomerulus-like structures (glomerulini). These were closely associated with cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum. Initially, glomerulini were mostly Allo A negative or showed peripheral Allo A-positive segments. The number of Allo A-positive glomerulini increased with the duration of treatment. Our findings identify the glomerulini as bipolar structures forming a link between the endoplasmic reticulum and the dissociating Golgi stacks.

Pavelka, M., & Ellinger, A. (1993). Early and late transformations occurring at organelles of the Golgi area under the influence of brefeldin A: an ultrastructural and lectin cytochemical study. Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry, 41(7), 1031–1042.