Summary
The results obtained with the indirect peroxidase technique for the identification of prostate specific acid phosphatase in formalin fixed, paraffin or paraplast embedded autopsy material are compared with the results obtained with the mixed aggregation immuno-cytochemical technique. When using a monospecific antiserum the former technique is prefered. However, when a monospecific antiserum is not available, one has to balance the advantages of the mixed aggregation immuno-cytochemical technique against the disadvantages of having to prepare a monospecific antiserum, necessary for the indirect peroxidase technique. Both methods appeared positive in 20 prostatic carcinomas and in 36 metastases of prostatic carcinomas. In the epithelium of the seminal vesicles and in osteoclasts no acid phosphatase could be detected with the antiserum. A comparison of both techniques, as well as different types of preincubation to diminish nonspecific background staining are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abul-Fadl, M.A.M., King, E.J.: Inhibition of acid phosphatase by formaldehyde and its clinical application for determination of serum acid phosphatases. J. Clin. Pathol. 1, 80–84 (1948)
Barka, T.: A simple azo-dye method for histochemical demonstration of acid phosphatase. Nature 187, 248–249 (1960)
Burns, I., Hambridge, M., Taylor, C.R.: Intracellular immunoglobulins. A comparative study on three standard tissue processing methods using horseradish peroxidase and fluorochrome conjugates. J. Clin. Pathol. 27, 548–557 (1974)
Burstone, M.S.: Enzyme histochemistry. New York and London: Academic Press 1962
Gomori, G.: Microscopic histochemistry. Chicago University Press 1952
Helms, S.R., Brattain, M.G., Pretlow II, T.G., Kreisberg, J.I.: “Prostatic acid phosphatase?” Am. J. Pathol. 88, 529–538 (1977)
Huang, S., Minassian, H., More, J.D.: Application of immunofluorescent staining on paraffin sections improved by trypsin digestion. Lab. Invest. 35, 383–390 (1976)
Jöbsis, A.C., de Vries, G.P., Anholt, R.R.H., Sanders, G.T.B.: Demonstration of the prostatic origin of metastases. Cancer 41, 1788–1793 (1978)
Li, C.Y., Yam, L.T., Lam, K.W.: Studies of acid phosphatase isoenzymes in human leukocytes demonstration of isoenzyme cell specificity. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 18, 901–910 (1970)
Mostofi, F.K., Price, E.B.: Tumors of the male genital system, Sec. Series, fasc. 8, pp. 196–261. Washington: A.F.I.P., 1973
Paul, B.D., Serrano, J.A., Sternberger, N.J., Wasserkrug, H.L., Serrano, A.A., Seligman, A.M.: A new specific cytochemical substrate for prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP). J. Histochem. Cytochem. 24, 617–618 (1976)
Pearse, A.G.E.: Histochemistry, theoretical and applied, 3rd ed. Vol. 1, pp. 547–550. London: Churchill 1968
Schofield, B.H., Mulhern, H.L., McDonald, D.F.: Acid phosphorylcholine phosphatase of sebaceous glands and osteoclasts. J.Histochem. Cytochem. 25, 309–310 (1977a)
Schofield, B.H., McDonald, D.F.: Describing enzymatic hydrolysis of phosphorylcholine and d-ephedrine-o-phosphate. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 25, 1279–1280 (1977b)
Serrano, J.A., Shannon Jr., W.A., Sterberger, N.J., Wasserkrug, H.L., Serrano, A.A., Seligman, A.M.: The cytochemical demonstration of prostatic acid phosphatase using a new substrate, phosphorylcholine. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 24, 1046–1056 (1976)
Streefkerk, J.G.: Inhibition of erythrocyte pseudoperoxidase activity by treatment with hydrogen peroxide following methanol. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 20, 829–831 (1972)
De Vries, G.P., Slob, A.W., Jöbsis, A.C., Meijer, A.E.F.H., Sanders, G.T.B.: Prostate specific acid phosphatase: purification and specific antibody production in rabbits. Am. J. Clin. Pathol. (in press)
Wachsmuth, E.D.: An immuno-histochemical method for localisation of enzymes in tissue sections: the use of antibody bound to tissue antigen and its property of binding crossreactive soluble antigen. Histochemie 37, 251–263 (1973)
Zehr, D.R.: Use of hydrogen peroxide-egg albumin to eliminate nonspecific staining in immunoperoxidase techniques. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 26, 415–416 (1978)
Zugibe, F.T.: Diagnostic Histochemistry, p. 172. St. Louis: C.V. Mosby 1970
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stegehuis, F., de Vries, G.P., Jöbsis, A.C. et al. Comparative investigation of the mixed aggregation immunocytochemical technique and the indirect peroxidase technique for the detection of prostate specific acid phosphatase in paraffin or paraplast sections. Histochemistry 62, 45–54 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00537005
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00537005