Tubuloampullar structures associated with the endoplasmic reticulum in pancreatic B-cells.

Unusual aggregations of ampullar dilated tubules (tubuloampullar structures, TAS) were observed in pancreatic B-cells of rats and in one case of human malignant insulinoma. The TAS were invariably associated with dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum, but lacked ribosomes. They were frequently seen to be closely associated with the Golgi apparatus. Furthermore, TAS were located mainly in degranulated areas of B-cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]