Sécréton

Sécréton is a term used in some theoretical discussions to denote a discrete secretory particle that carries cargo from secretory cells to the plasma membrane. In mainstream cell biology, the concept is more commonly described in terms of secretory vesicles and granules; sécréton is not a standard label.

Etymology: from French sécrétion meaning secretion, with the diminutive/particle suffix -ton. The term has limited and selective usage, and is not universally accepted.

Proposed structure and composition vary by model. Some describe sécrétons as lipid-bound particles roughly the size of small secretory vesicles, while others imagine a proteinaceous shell that encapsulates cargo such as peptides or enzymes. Formation is proposed to occur in Golgi-derived or endosomal compartments.

Function and mechanism in proposed frameworks emphasize regulated targeting and timed release. Sécrétons would dock at the plasma membrane and fuse to discharge cargo, with the release governed by signaling pathways and secretion machinery similar to those regulating conventional vesicles.

History and reception: the term appears only in limited theoretical writings and is not widely adopted in experimental cell biology. Critics note that existing concepts such as secretory vesicles, granules, and exosomes already cover the functional space described, making sécréton a speculative label rather than a standard category. Related concepts include secretory vesicles, secretory granules, exosomes, and other cargo-carrying particles.