Die Darstellung phosphatfreisetzender Enzyme mittels Schwermetall-Simultan-Methoden

Demonstration of immuno-bound alkaline phosphatase by a direct lead method. Optimization of reaction parameters by microdensitometry using computer-aided image processing

Antigens labelled by the immunohistochemical alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) method can be visualized by a lead capture technique. Optimal conditions of the reaction, evaluated by microdensitometry using computer-aided image processing, are described.

[The histochemistry of human endosalpingeal ciliated cells (author's transl)]

The human endosalpingeal ciliated cells are not a homogeneous cell population. They can be distinguished into mitochondria prominent and normal cells. The morphological appearance of ciliated cells was studied in organ culture using different hormones and hormone combinations in the culture media. Histological (HE, semithin sections) and histochemical methods (PAS, Alcian Blue, SDH, LDH, ATPase, 5'-Nucleotidase, acid and alkaline Phosphatase) were applied. Those mitochondria prominent ciliated cells which are seen in the native endosalpinx can in vitro also be determined mainly under the influence of steroid hormones (hydrocortisone and progesterone). In hormone free incubation media the apices of ciliated cells are separated. This will happen in hormone containing media, too, but with delay, however. Some results are in agreement with the possible transformation from ciliated cells to secretory cells.

Automated image analysis for measurements of morphological reactions of blood vessels of the microvascular system

Using a modification of the Mg-ATPase reaction, the arterial blood vessels of the microcirculatory bed of the rat including the smallest precapillary vessels are visualized in a grey-level difference against their environment which permits to utilize the automatic image analyser QUANTIMET 720 and the programmable desk-top calculator HEWLETT-PACKARD 9100B. The article describes the method for preparing the sections, the measuring procedure, and the statistical verification of the results by means of the computer assisted two-way analysis of variance as well as studies demonstrating the reliability of the method. It is concluded that the procedure at heart, skeletal muscle and pancreas specimens of the rat demonstrates reliably and effectively changes of the number of vessels and the projected whole vessel wall area as well as differences of enzyme activities. Thus it is possible to detect structural wall reactions and enzyme histochemical changes of arterial blood vessels of the microvasculatory bed including its smallest precapillaries which have been practically inaccessible to histomorphometrical investigations in the past.

The localization of enzyme activities in the pancreatic appendages of Sepia officinalis L. (Cephalopoda)

In this study, enzyme activities of the pancreatic appendages of the ductus hepatoPancreas (the so-called "pancreas") in Sepia officinalis L. have been demonstrated by light and electron micicroscopical methods: Malate dehydrogenase, monoamine oxidase, acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase, adenosine triphosphatase and carbonic anhydrase were shown by the former, and monoamine oxidase, catalase, glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, choline esterase (non-specific), alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and carbonic anhydrase by the latter technique. The correlation between enzyme activity and distribution, and the presumed function of the two pancreatic epithelia is discussed.

Differentiation and aging of the intestinal mucosa of the rat. I. Morphological, enzyme-histochemical and disc electrophoretic aspects of the prenatal and postnatal differentiation of the intestinal mucosa

The large and small intestines of fetal, newborn, juvenile and adult rats were investigated at various points by means of enzyme histochemistry, disc electrophoretic separations of enzymes and electron microscopy. The results obtained permit division of the morphological and enzymatic differentiation of the rat intestinal epithelium into four periods of development. 1. The period of prenatal development from the 19th to the 21st fetal day with a continuous increase of the enzyme activities in the enterocytes of the entire intestinal mucosa. 2. The period of postnatal development from the first day of life until the end of the second week with enzyme activity remaining roughly the same compared with the 21st day of life. 3. The period of adaptation from the beginning of the third week of life up to the middle of the fourth week of life. During this phase the transition into the stage of adult maturity occurs both morphologically and enzymatically. 4. The stage of adult maturity, which is fully developed in the middle of the fourth week of life.

[Histochemical and histological investigations on the human fallopian tube under different hormonal influences. I. Demonstration of ATPase with special reference to reactive ciliated cells (author's transl)]

The localization of the Mg++-activated adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) in the human Fallopian tube has been studied by means of histochemical methods. The samples were obtained from 18 women in the age from 23--62 years. Some of them were treated by various steroid hormones. Endosalpinx ciliary ATPase-activity represents dynein and is therefore an indicator of ciliary motility. Estrogens and gestagens have a different influence on the ATPase-activity. All cilia of one ciliated cell react in the same manner and may be regarded as a reaction unit. The relation of negative to positive ciliary borders differs characteristically in the tubal isthmus, ampulls and infundibulum and coincides with commonly known phenomena of egg transport through the oviduct. Postovulatory, reaction units increase in ampulla and infundibulum compared with the proliferative phase. The oviducts of postmenopausal women possess but a scanty outfit of reaction units. Short-time treatment with estrogen in the early secretory phase results in a great number of reaction units in all tubal segments; a similar treatment in the proliferative phase diminishes the reaction units in the ampulla. Midcycle progesterone treatment activates the ciliary ATPase in the isthmus. Low doses of lynestrenol (minipill) in the proliferative phase leads to a decrease of reaction units in all tubal segments; the pattern of ciliary reaction under low doses of lynestrenol at the time of ovulation coincides with that of the proliferative phase. Treatment with a contraceptive steroid (0,05 mg ethinylestradiol and 0,25 d-norgestrel) causes a considerable activation of the ciliary ATPase in all portions of the oviduct.

Use of chellators in the electron microscopic detection of mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase

Even when using modified WACHSTEIN-MEISEL procedure for the detection of mitochondrial ATP-ase it is difficult to avoid the non-specific reaction. Separation of the artefact from the precipitate of citric hydrolysis can be carried out only with difficulty. 20 mM of penicillin G amine or 40 mM of ascorbic acid in the incubation solution leads to selective localization. Ascorbic acid can also be used in the form of a 0.2 M tris and 0.05 M ascorbic acid buffer. With the use of chellators it is possible to eliminate factors which under pathological conditions greatly favour the formation of the artefact.

Cytochemical localization of phosphatase in differentiating secondary vascular cells

Phosphatase activity was studied in the cambium and differentiating vascular cells of beech by using a modified Washstein and Meisel method. After fixation in glutaraldehyde or crotonaldehyde and incubation in a medium containing ATP and lead nitrate at pH 7.2, a deposit of electron-opaque granules was found in the nucleoli, nucleoplasm, nuclear envelope, endoplasmic reticulum, plastids, mitochondria, and at the plasmalemma. Although located at these different sites, the distribution varied both inter- and intra-cellularly. This is thought to be a true reflection of the variation in activity between closely adjacent cells in this part of the stem.Some reaction was obtained when ADP replaced ATP in the reaction mixture, but there was no reaction at all when both ATP and ADP were omitted. Fixation in hydroxyadipaldehyde, or incubation at pH 6.4 both produced very little reaction.