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The naphthylamidase reaction as a diagnostic tool for the demonstration of cellular injury and autophagy

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As a sequence to previous results suggesting that the naphthylamidase (LNase) reaction performed at pH 5.5 mainly demonstrates sites of available lysosomal cathepsin B activity, a study was undertaken both on spontaneously occurring and induced cellular autolysis. This modified LNase reaction forms a useful enzymatic tool for the histochemical visualization of enlarged lysosomes and autolytio vacuoles. Cell injury may thus be demonstrated at an earlier stage long before dye-exclusion tests become positive.

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Supported by institutional grants from the Jubilee Fund and the Cancer Society of Stockholm.

This work was undertaken during the tenure of an Eleanor Roosevelt International Cancer Fellowship of the American Cancer Society awarded to Dr. Niemi by the International Union Against Cancer.

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Niemi, M., Sylvén, B. The naphthylamidase reaction as a diagnostic tool for the demonstration of cellular injury and autophagy. Histochemie 18, 40–47 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00309900

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00309900

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