Skip to main content
Log in

γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase demonstrated in tissue sections embedded in glycol methacrylate resin

  • Papers
  • Published:
The Histochemical Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A method is described for the histochemical demonstration of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase in tissue sections embedded in glycol methacrylate at low temperature. Enzyme activity was preserved by a short (3 h) fixation of tissue in 4% paraformaldehyde at 4° C prior to embedding at 4° C. Tissue embedded in glycol methacrylate combined good morphology with accurate enzyme localization. Blocks of the embedded tissue could be stored at room temperature for at least 3 months without loss of enzyme activity. The resin is non-fluorescent, allowing the use of the fluorescent coupling agent 5-nitrosalicylaldehyde to visualize the reaction product.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ASHFORD, A. E., ALLAWAY, W. G. & MCCULLY, H. E. (1972) Low temperature embedding in glycol methacrylate for enzyme histochemistry in plant and animal tissues.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 20, 986–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • BECKSTEAD, J. H. & BAINTON, D. F. (1980) Enzyme histochemistry on bone marrow biopsies: Reactions useful in the differential diagnosis of leukaemias and lymphomas applied to 2-micron plastic sections.Blood 55, 386–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • COHEN, M. B., BECKSTEAD, J. H., FERELL, L. D. & YEN, T. S. B. (1986a) Enzyme histochemistry of hepatocellular neoplasms.Amer. J. Surg. Pathol. 10, 789–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • COHEN, M. B., MILLER, T. R. & BECKSTEAD, J. H. (1986b) Enzyme histochemistry and thryoid neoplasia.Amer. J. Clin. Pathol. 85, 668–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • DIERICKX, P. J. (1981) Urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase as an indicator of acute nephrotoxicity in rats.Arch. Toxicol. 47, 209–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • GERRITS, P. O. & ZUIDVELD, R. (1983) The influence of dehydration media and catalyst systems upon the enzyme activity of tissues embedded in 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate: an evaluation of three dehydration media and two catalyst systems.Mikroskopie 40, 321–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • GOSSRAU, R. (1980) Conventional techniques for membrane-bound enzymes. InTrends in Enzyme Histochemistry and Cytochemistry (edited by EVERED, D. & O'CONNOR, M.), pp. 67–80. (Ciba Foundation Symposium 73). Amsterdam, Oxford & New York: Excerpta Medica.

    Google Scholar 

  • GOSSRAU, R. (1985) Cytochemistry of membrane proteases.Histochem. J. 17, 737–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • GRIFFITH, O. W. & MEISTER, A. (1979) Glutathione: Interorgan translocation, turnover and metabolism.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 76, 5606–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • HIGUCHI, S., SUGA, M., DANNENBERG, A. M. & SCHOFIELD, B. H. (1979) Histochemical demonstration of enzyme activities in plastic and paraffin embedded tissue sections.Stain Technol. 54, 5–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • LITWIN, J. A. (1985) Light microscopic histochemistry on plastic sections.Prog. Histochem. Cytochem. 16, 1–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • MEISTER, A. (1984) New aspects of glutathione biochemistry and transport: Selective alteration of glutathione metabolism.Fed. Proc. 43, 3031–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • MEISTER, A. & ANDERSON, M. E. (1983) Glutathione.Ann. Rev. Biochem. 52, 711–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • MEISTER, A., TATE, S. S. & GRIFFITH, O. W. (1981) γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase.Methods Enzymol. 77, 237–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • NAMBA, M., DANNENBERG, A. M. & TANAKA, F. (1983) Improvement in the histochemical demonstration of acid phosphatase, β-galactosidase and non-specific esterase in glycol methacrylate tissue sections by cold temperature embedding.Stain Technol. 58, 207–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • RUTENBURG, A. M., KIM, H., FISCHBEIN, J. W., HAWKER, J. S., WASSERKRUG, H. L. & SELIGMAN, A. M. (1969) Histochemical and ultrastructural demonstration of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase activity.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 17, 517–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • SINGH, J., CHANDER, J., SINGH, S., SINGH, G. & ATAL, C. K. (1986) γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase: a novel biochemical marker in inflammation.Biochem. Pharmacol. 35 3753–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • TATE, S. S., THOMPSON, G. A. & MEISTER, A. (1976) Recent studies on gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. InGlutathione, metabolism and function (edited by ARIAS, I. M. & JAKOBY, W. B.) pp. 45–55. New York; Raven.

    Google Scholar 

  • TE VELDE, J., BURKHARDT, R., KLEIVERDA, K., LEENHEERS-BINNENDIJK, L. & SOMMERFELD, W. (1977) Methyl methacrylate as an embedding medium in histopathology.Histopathology 1 319–30.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Murray, G.I., Burke, M.D. & Ewen, S.W.B. γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase demonstrated in tissue sections embedded in glycol methacrylate resin. Histochem J 19, 476–482 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01675417

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01675417

Keywords

Navigation