Summary
The ultrastructural localizations of alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) and of Na+−K+-dependent adenosine triphosphatase (Na+−K+-ATPase) were studied in the placental labyrinth of the cat during the last days of gestation. ALPase activity could be detected in the syncytiotrophoblast but was absent from maternal tissues. Enzyme activity was observed only along plasma membranes of microvilli and absorption tubules on the maternal surface of the syncytium and also on the podocytes-like cytoplasmic processes of the fetal face. The localization of the Na+−K+-ATPase activity as obtained with the method of Ernst was identical with that of ALPase. This activity was not very ouabaine sensitive or K+ dependent, but was almost completely inhibited by levamisole. The strong ALPase activity of the syncytiotrophoblast does not allow a specific detection of Na+−K+-ATPase. However, the localization of these enzymes activities on syncytiotrophoblast surfaces directly related to fetal and maternal capillaries could suggest that these surfaces are associated with transport mechanisms of the trophoblast.
Résumé
Les localisations de la phosphatase alcaline (ALPase) et de l'adénosine triphosphatase Na+−K+-dependante (Na+−K+-ATPase) ont été recherchées dans le labyrinthe du placenta de chatte en fin de gestation. L'activité ALPase est localisée de manière discontinue le long de la membrane plasmique du syncytiotrophoblaste: microvillosités et tubules d'absorption de la face maternelle, digitations cytoplasmiques à allure podocytique de la face foetale. La localisation de l'activité Na+−K+-ATPase par la méthode de Ernst est identique à celle de l'ALPase. Cette activité, très peu sensible à la ouabaïne et à l'absence de K+, est presque totalement inhibée par le tétramisole. Cette présence importante d'activité ALPase empêche la mise en évidence spécifique de la Na+−K+-ATPase. La localisation de ces enzymes dans des zones en rapport avec les capillaires foetaux et maternels, permet de soutenir la thèse d'une spécialisation de ces zones dans les mécanismes de transport.
Similar content being viewed by others
Bibliographie
Benham, F., Cottell, D.C., Franks, L.M., Wilson, P.D.: Alkaline phosphatase activity in human bladder tumor cell lines. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 25, 266–274 (1977)
Björkman, N.: Some ultrastructural features of the feline placental barrier. Anat. Rec. 157, 214 (1967)
Björkman, N.: Fine structure of fetal maternal area of exchange in the epitheliochorial and endotheliochorial types of placentation. Acta Anat. 86, Suppl. 1, 1–22 (1973)
Borgers, M.: The cytochemical application of new potent inhibitors of alkaline phosphatases. J. Histochem Cytochem. 21, 812–824 (1973)
Busse, O.: Beltrage zur Kenntnis der Stoffwechselvorgänge in der menschlichen Placenta. Z. Physiol. Chem. 242, 271–279 (1936)
Ernst, S.A.: Transport adenosine triphosphatase cytochemistry. II. Cytochemical localization of ouabain-sensitive, potassium-dependent phosphatase activity in the secretory epithelium of the avian salt gland. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 20, 23–38 (1972)
Essner, E.: Phosphatases In: Electron microscopy of enzymes. Hayat, M.A. (ed.), Vol. 1, pp. 44–76. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold 1973
Everett, R.M., Duncan, J.R., Prasse, K.W.: Alkaline phosphatases in tissues and sera of cats. Am. J. Vet. Res. 38, 1533–1538 (1977)
Firth, J.A.: Problems of specificity in the use of a strontium capture technique for the cytochemical localization of ouabain-sensitive, potassium dependent phosphatase in mammalian renal tubules. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 22, 1163–1168 (1974)
Firth, J.A.: Cytochemical approaches to the localization of specific adenosine triphosphatases. Histochem. J. 10, 253–269 (1978)
Hugon, J., Borgers, M.: A direct lead method for the electron microscopic visualization of alkaline phosphatase activity. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 14, 429–431 (1966)
Hugon, J., Borgers, M.: Fine structural localization of acid and alkaline phosphatase activities in the absorbing cells of the duodenum of rodents. Histochemie 12, 42–66 (1968)
Hugon, J.S.: Ultrastructural differentiation and enzymatic localization of phosphatases in the developing duodenal epithelium of the mouse. Histochemie 22, 109–124 (1970)
Hulstaert, C.E., Torringa, J.I., Koudstaal, J., Hardonk, M.J., Molenaar, I.: The characteristic distribution of alkaline phosphatase in the fullterm human placenta. Gynecol. Invest. 4, 24–30 (1973)
Levenberger, P.M., Novikoff, A.B.: Localization of transport adenosine triphosphatase in rat cornea. J. Cell Biol. 60, 721–731 (1974)
Malassiné, A.: Evolution ultrastructurale du labyrinthe de placenta de chatte. Anat. Embryol. 146, 1–20 (1974)
Malassiné, A.: Localisations ultrastructurales dans le labyrinthe du placenta de chatte de la phosphatase acide, de la thiamine pyrophosphatase et de la coloration par l'acide phosphotungstique à base pH. Histochemistry 47, 191–205 (1976)
Martin, B.J., Spicer, S.S., Smythe, N.M.: Cytochemical studies of the maternal surface of the syncytiotrophoblast of human early and term placenta. Anat. Rec. 178, 769–786 (1974)
Miller, R.K., Bernd, W.O.: Characterization of neutral amino acid accumulation by human term placental slices. Am. J. Physiol. 227, 1236–1242 (1974)
Neale, F.C., Clubb, J.S., Hotchkis, P., Posen, S.: Heat stability of human placental alkaline phosphatase. J. Clin. Pathol. 18, 359–363 (1966)
Skou, J.C.: Enzymatic basis for active transport of Na+ and K+ across cell membrane. Physiol. Rev. 45, 596–617 (1965)
Wachstein, M., Meisel, E.: Histochemistry of hepatic phosphatases at a physiologic pH. With special reference to the demonstration of bile canaliculi. Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 27, 13–23 (1957)
Wakely, J.: Cytochemical localization of transport adenosine triphosphatase in the ferret placenta. Histochem. J. 8, 351–356 (1976)
Wislocki, G.B., Dempsey, E.W.: Histochemical reactions in the placenta of the cat. Am. J. Anat. 78, 1–37 (1946)
Yamaguchi, R., Matsuda, T., Aizawa, T.: Amino acid uptakes in normal and small-for-date placentas, with special reference to activity of transport ATPase in placental slices and isolated trophoblastic membrane. Tohoku J. Exp. Med. 125, 367–376 (1978)
Yorde, D.E., Hussa, R.O., Carancis, J.C., Patillo, R.A.: Immunocytochemical localization of human choriogonadotropin in human malignant trophoblast. Lab. Invest. 40, 391–398 (1979)
Zijlstra, J.B., Torringa, J.L., Bouma, J.M.W.: Intracellular distribution of alkaline phosphatase in human placenta. Gynecol. Invest. 1, 161–168 (1970)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Malassiné, A. Activité phosphatase alcaline dans le labyrinthe du placenta de chatte, et problème de la localisation de l'ATPase de transport: étude ultrastructurale. Histochemistry 65, 239–248 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00493173
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00493173