Alterations in the Golgi complex and glycoprotein biosynthesis in normal and diseased tissues.

The Golgi complex has an important role in the regulation and normal 
development of the cell, contributing to anabolic functions including the assembly 
and secretion of macromolecules and to catabolic functions, in the synthesis 
of lysosomes. The central role of the Golgi complex in the 
biosynthesis of glycoproteins has been demonstrated. The purpose of this review 
is to focus attention on the structural and functional correlation of 
the Golgi complex in the liver, in relation to its involvement 
in disease. The hepatic parenchymal cell has been used widely as 
a model to study biosynthetic, absorptive and secretory functions of epithelial 
cell types. The studies are grouped under five broad headings: structural 
organization; development and differentiation; ultrastructural changes in pathologic conditions; alterations in 
glycoprotein biosynthesis; and alterations in glycosyltransferases. 