Summary
With the help of enzyme histochemical methods, the distribution and activities of several oxidative and hydrolytic enzymes in the epidermis of the densely-haired domestic cat have been studied. Distinct oxidative enzyme activity could be demonstrated in all epidermallayers except the stratum corneum. Among the hydrolytic enzymes investigated, strong reactions for non-specific esterases were visible especially in the str. granulosum and the basal lamellae of the str. corneum. Positive reactions for cholinesterases could not be observed in the cat epidermis.
The results are discussed in relation to corresponding investigations on the epidermis of sparsely-haired mammals, e. g. the domestic pig and man. Generally the enzyme pattern of the cat epidermis only shows limited parallels to man, especially where esterase distribution is concerned.
Zusammenfassung
Mit Hilfe von enzymhistochemischen Methoden wurden die Verteilung und die Aktivitäten verschiedener oxydativer und hydrolytischer Enzyme in der Epidermis der Hauskatze untersucht. Deutliche Aktivitäten oxydativer Enzyme konnten mit Ausnahme des Stratum corneum in allen epidermalen Zellagen beobachtet werden. Unter den nachgewiesenen hydrolytischen Enzymen zeigte besonders die unspezifische Esterase stark positive Reaktionen im Stratum granulosum und in den basalen Anteilen des Stratum corneum. Cholinesterase-Aktivitäten waren in der Epidermis der Katze nicht festzustellen.
Die vorliegenden Ergebnisse von der Epidermis der dicht behaarten Hauskatze werden im Zusammenhang mit den Ergebnissen entsprechender Untersuchungen an der Epidermis spärlich behaarter Säugetierarten (z.B. Hausschwein und Mensch) diskutiert. Insgesamt weist das Enzymmuster der Katzenepidermis nur bedingt Parallelen zu demjenigen der Epidermis des Menschen auf, wobei speziell in der Verteilung und den Aktivitäten von Esterasen Abweichungen auftreten.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amoroso, E. C., Ebling, F. J.: Hormones and skin. J. Small Anim.7, 755–775 (1966)
Baker, K. P.: Hair growth and replacement in the cat. Brit. Vet. J.130, 327–335 (1974)
Barka, T., Anderson, P. J.: Histochemical methods for acid phosphatase using pararosanilin as coupler. J. Histochem. Cytochem.10, 741–755 (1962)
Barka, T., Anderson, P. J.: Histochemistry. Theory, practice, and bibliography. New York: Harper & Row 1963
Brody, I.: The epidermis. In: Handbuch der Haut- und Geschlechtskrankheiten, Ergänzungswerk I/1 (J. Jadassohn, ed.). Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1968
Burstone, M. S.: Histochemical comparison of naphthol-AS-phosphates for demonstration of phosphatases. J. nat. Cancer Inst.20, 601–615 (1958)
Burstone, M. S.: Histochemical demonstration of cytochrome oxidase with new amine reagents. J. Histochem. Cytochem.8, 63–70 (1960)
Carruthers, C., Quevedo, W. C., Jr., Woernley, D. L.: Influence of hair growth cycle on cytochrome oxidase and DPNH-cytochrome C reductase in mouse epidermis. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med.101, 374–376 (1959)
Conroy, J. D., Green, Ch. A.: Distribution of acid and alkaline phosphatases in canine skin. Amer. J. Vet. Res.36, 1697–1703 (1975)
Creed, R. F. S.: The histology of mammalian skin, with special reference to the dog and cat. Vet. Rec.70, 171–175 (1958)
Davis, B. J., Ornstein, L.: High resolution enzyme localization with a new diazo reagent “Hexazonium pararosanilin”. J. Histochem. Cytochem.7, 297–298 (1959)
Ellis, R. A.: Enzymes of the epidermis. In: The epidermis (W. Montagna, W. C. Lobitz, eds.). New York-London: Academic Press 1964
Florey, E., Michelson, M. J.: Occurrence, pharmacology, and significance of cholinergic mechanisms in the animal kingdom. In: Comparative pharmacology, Vol. 1 (M. J. Michelson, ed.). Oxford-New York-Toronto-Sidney-Braunschweig: Pergamon Press 1973
Geyer, G.: Ultrahistochemie. Histochemische Arbeitsvorschriften für die Elektronenmikroskopie. 2nd ed. Stuttgart: Fischer 1973
Glenner, G. G., Burtner, H. J., Brown, G. W.: The histochemical demonstration of monoamine oxidase activity by tetrazolium salts. J. Histochem. Cytochem.5, 591–600 (1957)
Gomori, G.: Microscopic histochemistry. Chicago: Univ. Chicago Press 1952
Goldfischer, S.: The cytochemical demonstration of lysosomal aryl sulfatase activity by light and electron microscopy. J. Histochem. Cytochem.13, 520–523 (1965)
Hellmann, K.: Cholinesterase and amine oxidase in the skin: a histochemical investigation. J. Physiol. (London)129, 454–463 (1955)
Herrmann, F., Ippen, H., Schaefer, H., Stüttgen, G.: Biochemie der Haut. Stuttgart: Thieme 1973
Hershey, F. B.: Quantitative histochemistry of skin. In: The epidermis (W. Montagna, W. C. Lobitz, eds.). New York-London: Academic Press 1964
Holt, S. J., Withers, R. F. J.: Studies on enzyme cytochemistry. V. An appraisal of indigogenic reactions of esterase localization. Proc. Roy. Soc. London B,148, 520–532 (1958)
Holt, S. J., Hobbiger, E. E., Pavan, G. L. S.: Preservation of integrity of rat tissues for cytochemical staining purposes. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol.7, 383–386 (1960)
Im, M. J. C.: Distribution of dehydrogenases in the skin of the Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). J. Histochem. Cytochem.13, 668–676 (1965)
Jenkinson, D. M., Blackburn, P. S.: The distribution of nerves, monoamine oxidase and cholinesterase in the skin of the cat and dog. Res. Vet. Sci.9, 521–528 (1968)
Karnovsky, M. J., Roots, L.: A “direct-coloring” thiocholin method for cholinesterases. J. Histochem. Cytochem.12, 219–221 (1964)
Koelle, G. B.: The histochemical identification of acetyl-cholinesterase in cholinergic, adrenergic, and sensory neurones. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther.114, 167–184 (1955)
Kristensen, S.: A study of skin diseases in dogs and cats. I. Histology of the hairy skin of dogs and cats. Nord. Vet. Med.27, 593–603 (1975)
Lazarus, G. S., Hatcher, V. B., Levine, N.: Lysosomes and the skin. J. invest. Derm.65, 259–271 (1975)
Meyer, W., Neurand, K.: Enzymhistochemische Untersuchungen an der Epidermis des Hausschweines. Z. mikrosk.-anat. Forsch.89, 961–973 (1975)
Meyer, W., Neurand, K.: The distribution of enzymes in the skin of the domestic pig. Lab. Animals10, 237–247 (1976)
Meyer, W., Schwarz, R., Neurand, K.: The skin of domestic mammals as a model for the human skin, with special reference to the domestic pig. Proc. 22nd OHOLO Biol. Conf. (Ma'alot, Israel). Basel: Karger (in press) 1977
Mier, P. D., v. d. Hurk, J. J. M. A.: Lysosomal hydrolases of the epidermis: 4. Overall profile in comparison with dermis and other tissues. Brit. J. Derm.94, 443–446 (1976)
Montagna, W.: Cutaneous comparative biology. Arch. Derm.104, 577–591 (1971)
Montagna, W., Ellis, R. A.: Histochemistry of enzymes in the skin. In: Handbuch der Histochemie, Bd. VII: Enzyme, 2. Teil (W. Graumann, K. Neumann, eds.). Stuttgart: Fischer 1962
Montagna, W., Lobitz, W. C., Jr. (eds.): The epidermis. New York-London: Academic Press 1964
Nachlas, M. M., Monis, B., Rosenblatt, D., Seligman, A. M.: Improvement in the histochemical localization of leucine aminopeptidase with a new substrate, L-leucyl-4-methoxy-2-naphthyl-amide. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol.7, 261–264 (1960)
Nachlas, M. M., Tsou, K. C., de Souza, E., Cheng, C., Seligman, A. M.: Cytological demonstration of succinic dehydrogenase by use of a new p-nitrophenol substituted ditetrazole. J. Histochem. Cytochem.5, 420–436 (1957)
Neurand, K., Schwarz, R.: Lichtmikroskopische Untersuchungen an der Haut der Katze: Epidermis, Corium, Subcutis. Dtsch. Tierärztl. Wschr.76, 521–527 (1969)
Pearse, A. G. E.: Histochemistry. Theoretical and applied. Vol. 1 and 2, 3rd ed. London: Churchill 1968, London-Edinburgh: Churchill-Livingstone 1972
Pugh, D., Walker, P. G.: Histological localization of β-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-β-glucosamini-dase. J. Histochem. Cytochem.9, 105–106 (1961)
Romeis, B.: Mikroskopische Technik. 16. ed. München-Wien: Oldenbourg 1968
Rutherford, T., Pawlowski, A.: Acid phosphatase staining of the stratum corneum as a marker of damage by low irritancy compounds. Brit. J. Derm.91, 503–506 (1974)
Ryan, T. J.: Inflammation, fibrin and fibrinolysis. In: The physiology and pathophysiology of the skin (A. Jarrett, ed.), Vol. 2. London-New York: Academic Press 1973
Ryan, T. J.: Factors influencing growth of vascular endothelium in the skin. In: The physiology and pathophysiology of the skin (A. Jarret, ed.), Vol. 2. London-New York: Academic Press 1973
Scarpelli, D. G., Hess, R., Pearse, A. G. E.: The cytochemical localization of oxidative enzymes. I. Diphosphopyridine nucleotide diaphorase. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol.4, 747–751 (1958)
Schaaf, F.: Probleme dermatologischer Grundlagenforschung. Heidelberg: Hüthig 1969
Sims, R. T.: The epidermis. In: An introduction to the biology of the skin (R. H. Champion, T. Gillman, A. J. Rook, R. T. Sims, eds.). Oxford-Edinburgh: Blackwell 1970
Strickland, J. H., Calhoun, M. L.: The integumentary system of the cat. Amer. J. Vet. Res.24, 1018–1029 (1963)
Stüttgen, G., Schaefer, H.: Funktionelle Dermatologie. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1974
Wächtler, K., Pearse, A. G. E.: The histochemical demonstration of five lysosomal enzymes in the pars distalis of the amphibian pituitary. Z. Zellforsch.69, 326–333 (1966)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft in the framework of a project on studies on the integument of domestic mammals
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meyer, W., Neurand, K. The distribution of enzymes in the epidermis of the domestic cat. Arch. Derm. Res. 260, 29–38 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00558011
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00558011