Question

What does it mean when a cell contains large amounts of smooth endoplasmic reticulum?

Answer 1

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum manufactures lipids and hormones/steroids, is involved in the detoxification of many molecules, and stores and releases calcium ions during the process of muscle contraction.

So it can mean a few different things when a cell contains large amounts of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Liver cells contain a lot of smooth endoplasmic reticulum particularly for detoxification, as do cells involved in the endocrine system which create hormones and steroids, and I suppose that muscle cells might have a larger amount than usual.