Synopsis
Rat lungs were supported by ten different materials in an attempt to compare the quality of the sections obtained and to assess the effects of these materials on the activities of three enzyme systems in alveolar tissue as determined by histochemical techniques.
Most of the supportive materials were not removed during enzyme incubation and caused some apparent inhibition of enzyme activity. Of the compounds investigated, 0.5% polyethylene glycol was found to produce the most satisfactory results with the least distortion or compression of the alveolar tissue and no apparent inhibition of the three enzymes studied, lactate dehydrogenase, non-specific esterase and alkaline phosphatase. Some of the materials investigated, notably acacia and carboxymethylcellulose, appeared to decrease the thickness of the alveolar wall. This effect was only seen in lungs supported by the most viscous materials.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barry, D. h. &Spring, B. j. (1967). An apparatus for rapid attachment of frozen tissue to cryostat tissue carriers.Stain Technol. 42, 147–9.
Barry, D. h. &Robinson, W. e. (1969). Enzyme histochemical studies on rat lungs. 2. Normal enzyme distribution in the alveolar tissue of the mature lung.Histochem J. I, 505–15.
Burstone, M. s. (1961). Histochemical demonstration of phosphatases in frozen sections with Naphthol AS-Phosphates.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 7, 112–22.
Pearse, A. g. e. (1961).Histochemistry: theoretical and applied. 2nd Ed., p. 886. London: Churchill.
Sherwin, R. p., Winnick, S. &Buckley, R. d. (1967). Response of lactic acid dehydrogenase-positive alveolar cells in the lungs of guinea pigs exposed to nitric oxide.Am. Rev. resp. Dis. 96, 319–23.
Song, S. k. &Anderson, P. j. (1963). Improved visualization of motor end plates with the α-naphthyl acetate-hexazonium pararosaniline method.Stain Technol. 38, 344–6.
Sorokin, S., Padykula, H. a., &Herman, E. (1959). Comparative histochemical patterns in developing mammalian lungs.Devl Biol. 1, 125–51.
Thomas, E. &Pearse, A. g. e. (1961). The fine localization of dehydrogenases in the nervous system.Histochemie 2, 266–82.
Tyler, W. s. &Pearse, A. g. e. (1965). Oxidative enzymes of the interalveolar septum of the rat.Thorax 20, 149–52.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Barry, D.H., Robinson, W.E. Enzyme histochemical studies on rat lungs I. An improved technique for the demonstration of enzyme activity in alveolar tissue. Histochem J 1, 497–504 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012856
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012856