Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

On the method of glenner for the histochemical demonstration of the monoamine oxidase (MAO)

  • Published:
Histochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The method of Glenner et al. for the histochemical demonstration of MAO activity was studied by means of scanning microdensitometry and discrete measurement of optical density (λ-590 nm) of the liver and brain tissues sections.

The experiments indicated that: (1) The optimal time of incubation (the thickness of sections is 15 μm) is 60–90 min. (2) The histochemical reaction proceeds with the following substrates: dopamine, noradrenalin, serotonin, and tryptamine. (3) Iproniazid is the best inhibitor for preincubation whereas for simultaneous inhibition the substrate semicarbazide is better. (4) The incubation under the anaerobic conditions caused a considerable decrease of the stain intensity of the sections. We consider these data to indicate that both the aldehydes and acids formed under oxidation may take part in direct reduction of NBT to diformazan. (5) The histochemical reaction for MAO without substrates testifies to the presence of endogenous amines or other redox reactions leading to the reduction of NBT.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Almeida, P.A., Kulay, L., Camano, L.: Histochemical study of the monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the placenta of rats (Pattus norvegicus albinus, Rodentia mammalia) which were submitted to acute stress on the 15th and 18th days of pregnancy. Ann. Histochem. 16, 265–272 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Altman, F.P.: The use of a recording microdensitometer for the quantitative measurement of enzyme activities inside tissue sections. Histochemie 27, 125–136 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Arioka J., Tanimucai, H.: Histochemical studies on MAO in the midbrain of the mouse. J. Neurochem. 1, 311–314 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bjorklund, A., Falck, B., Owman, Ch.: Fluorescence microscopic and microspectrofluorometric techniques for the cellular localization and characterization of biogenic amines. In: Methods of investigative and diagnostic endocrinology, Vol. 1. pp. 318–368 (S.A. Berson, ed.), Amsterdam: 1972

  • Blackstad, T., Fuxe, K., Hokfelt, T.: Noradrenaline nerve terminals in the hippocampal region of the rat and guinea pig. Z. Zellforsch. 78, 463–473 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Boadle, M.C., Bloom, F.E.: A method for the fine structural localization of monoamine oxidase. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 17, 331–340 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Budantsev, A. Yu., Guryanova, A.: Distribution of the biogenic amines in the hippocampal formation of rabbit. Arch. Anat. Histol. Embryol. (USSR) 68, 70–74 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Budantsev, A. Yu., Zharikov, S.: The use of interference filter for 400–700 nm spectrum for microspectrofluorimetry. Tes. 1st conf. Photometrical measurement and its metrological, Moscow, 1974, p. 24 (1974)

  • Budantsev, A. Yu., Zharikov, S., Barilko, Sh., Korobova, T., Borisyuk, G.: Microspectrofluorimeter with registration of information in the perforator. Cytologia (USSR), in press (1976)

  • Eadie, M.J., Tyrer, J.H., Kukums, J.R.: Iproniazid inhibition of monoamine oxidase: cytophotometric measurements in various regions of rabbit brain. Brain 91, 519–535 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eadie, M.J., Tyrer, J.H., Kukums, J.R., Hooper, W.D.: Aspects of tetrazolium salt reduction relevant to quantitative histochemistry. Histochemie 21, 170–180 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Furness, J.B., Costa, M.: Monoamine oxidase histochemistry of enteric neurons in the guinea pig. Histochemie 28, 324–336, (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuxe, K.: Evidence for the existence of monoamine neurons in the central nervous system. IV. Distribution of monoamine nerve terminals in the central nervous system. Acta physiol. Scand. 64, Suppl. 247, 39–85 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gabler, W., Wendler, D., Schmidt, W.: Chromatographische und spectrophotometrische Untersuchungen an Nitro-BT und seinen Formazanen. Acta histochem. (Jena) 36, 295–302 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Genesser-Jensen, F.A.: Distribution of monoamine oxidase in the hippocampal region of the guinea pig. II. Subiculum and hippocampus. Z. Zellforsch. 121, 327–340 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Glenner, G.G., Burthner, H.J., Brown, G.W.: The histochemical demonstration of MAO activity by tetrazolium salts. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 5, 591–599 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  • Guryanova, A., Budantsev, A. Yu.: Quantitative histochemical investigation of monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the septum of rabbit. Thes. 3rd conference “Memory and trace processes” Puschinoon-Oka, USSR, 1974, p. 116–117 (1974)

  • Guryanova, A., Budantsev, A. Yu.: Monoaminoxidase. Advanc. modern Biol. (USSR) 79, 184–204 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalusa, J., Twarogowa, B.: Studies on non-enzymatic reduction of Nitro-BT applied as differential marker of nerve fibres of the central nervous system of the cat and rat. Folia Histochem. Cytochem. (Krakow) 5, 253–258 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lagnado, J.R., Sourkes, T.L.: Inhibition of amine oxidase by metal ions and by sulphhydryl compounds. Canad. J. Biochem. 334, 1185–1194 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Manocha, S.L., Shantha, T.R.: Enzyme histochemistry of the nervous system. In: The structure and function of nervous tissue, Vol. 2, p. 137–240 (1969)

  • Meier-Ruge, W., McFadden, S., Zehnder, K.: The value of histochemical demonstration of monoamine oxidase in experimental pharmacology and its correlation with biochemical determination of monoamine oxidase. Med. Pharmacol. exp. 14, 152–160 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearse, A.G.E.: Histochemistry, theoretical and applied. London: 1960

  • Robinson, N.: Histochemistry of monoamine oxidase in the developing rat brain. J. Neurochem. 14, 1083–1089 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shanon, W.A., Wesserkrung, J.H., Seligman, A.M.: The ultrastructural localization of monoamine oxidase (MAO) with tryptamine and new tetrazolium salt, 2-(2′-benzothiazolyl)-5-styryl-3-(4-phtalhydrazidyl) tetrazolium chloride (BSPT). J. Histochem. Cytochem. 22, 170–182 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shimizu, N., Nogoaki, M.: Histochemical study of monoamine oxidase in the developing rat brain. Nature (Lond.) 184, 650–651 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, B.: Monoamine oxidase in the pineal gland, neurohypophysis and brain of the albino rat. J. Anat. (Lond.) 97, 81–86 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tyrer, J.H., Eadie, M.J., Kukums, J.R.: Histochemical measurements of relative concentrations of monoamine oxidase in various regions of rabbit brain. Brain 91, 507–518 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Warchol, J.B., Marzotco, D.: Manometrische Befunde bei der PMS-katalysierten Reduction von nitro-BT. Acta histochem. (Jena) 42, 381–383 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zobkallo, G.I., Kalinina, M.K.: Changes in functional state of the brain in case of shifts in the metabolism of biogenic amines under the influence of iproniazid. In: Neurohormonal chain reactions and sympathoadrenal system. Acad. Sci. USSR, 166–171 (1968)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biological Physics, USSR Academy of Sciences, 142292, Puschino, USSR

    A. Yu. Budantsev & A. D. Zharikova

Authors
  1. A. Yu. Budantsev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. D. Zharikova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Budantsev, A.Y., Zharikova, A.D. On the method of glenner for the histochemical demonstration of the monoamine oxidase (MAO). Histochemistry 48, 335–345 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00499250

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00499250

Keywords

Search

Navigation