A gel-sandwich technique for the qualitative and quantitative determination of dehydrogenases in the enzyme histochemistry

Summary A gel-sandwich technique for the histochemical demonstration of dehydrogenases is introduced with LDH set up as an example. Especially suitable, of the gels examined, for this technique is 1.5% W/V agar-agar low gel strength. In it several reaction ingredients for the histochemical reaction are dissolved. Considering LDH the following gel composition showed good results: 1.5% W/V agar-agar low gel strength, 5 mM TNBT in 150 l DMF, 120 mM L-lactate, 3–5 mM NAD⁺, 10 mM amytal, 22,4–32×10^–5 M Meldola Blue, 160 mM soldium phosphate buffer pH 7.6 (total solution of 1 ml). After the solidification of the gel, gel-bars were frozen with CO₂-snow. The 40–80 m thick gel slices were gained in the cryostat. Of the three different arrangement possibilities of the gel slices and the tissue-sections a sandwich arrangement (cover-gel slice — tissue section — ground-gel slice) produced the best results. The enzyme reaction is started by thawing of the gel slices (together with the tissue sections) and by putting them between the hotplate and the evaporator-head-piece, especially developed for this technique. The gel slices also remain in combination with the tissue sections after the reaction.The influence of the gel in combination with the electron carrier Meldola Blue on the spontaneous reduction rates of ditetrazolium salts in day light, were examined as well as the diffusion rates of TNBT and NADH out of gel slices and the influence of DMF and DMSO on the LDH activity.This technique prevents both, the loss of enzymes and the loss of reduction equivalents. There are given presuppositions for qualitative and quantitative histochemical investigations as well. The advantages of the new gel technique are discussed.     

Meldola Blue: A new electron carrier for the histochemical demonstration of dehydrogenases (SDH,LDH, G-6-PDH)

Summary A new electron carrier, Meldola Blue (8-dimethylamino-2,3-benzophenoxazine; Boehringer Mannheim GmbH, Deutsche Patentschrift P 1959410) was tested for its usefulness in the histochemical demonstration of dehydrogenase activity in adrenal cortex, liver, heart muscle of guinea pig and human oviduct and compared with PMS.For demonstrating SDH activity Meldola Blue (MB) is as efficient as PMS. A decisive advantage of MB as compared with PMS is its low sensitivity to light exposure, facilitating direct visualisation of histochemical reaction processes.Generally, a high diffusion rate of reduced electron carriers (PMS and MB) from the section into the incubation medium (PVA) leads to a loss of reduction equivalents, particularly in the demonstration of NAD- or NADP-dependent dehydrogenases (LDH, G-6-PDH) with lower TNBT concentrations. However, no inhibition of SDH-, LDH- and G-6-PDH activities was observed with incubation media containing the tested concentrations of PMS and MB.     

Microphotometric determination of enzymes in brain sections. I. Hexokinase

A histochemical procedure was established for the microphotometric determination of hexokinase (HK) in sections of the rat hippocampus, which served as an exemplary brain region. For this quantitative procedure, slides were coated with glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) as an auxiliary enzyme and sections were mounted onto this enzyme film. The sections were then incubated with the following adapted incubation medium: 5 mM D-glucose, 1.5 mM NADP, 7.5 mM ATP, 4 mM nitroblue tetrazolium chloride, 10 mM NaN3, 10 mM MgCl2, 0.25 mM phenazine methosulfate, 1 U/ml G6PDH, 22% polyvinyl alcohol in 0.05 M Hepes buffer; the final pH was 7.5. A linear response of the reaction was observed in the initial 10 min of reaction (kinetic and end-point measurements). The relationship between HK activity and section thickness was linear up to 5 microns. The need for such thin sections is discussed in relation to the limited penetration of the auxiliary enzyme into the section. It is concluded that the quantitative demonstration of HK in brain sections could be a valuable tool for studying the local metabolic entrance of glucose in the glycolytic pathway.     

Quantitative succinate-dehydrogenase histochemistry. I. A Methodological study on mammalian and fish muscle.

In enzyme histochemistry formazan production can be used as a measure for oxidative enzyme activity. The formazan deposits can be measured quantitatively per cell with a scanning and integrating microspectrophotometer. Optimal conditions are described for the estimation of histochemical succinate dehydrogenase activity in sections of fish bodymusculature and mouse soleus and plantaris muscle. It is shown that when proper measuring conditions are chosen a ditetrazolium salt (TNBT) can be used in quantitative enzyme histochemistry and that the optimal conditions for the histochemical succinate dehydrogenase reaction in muscle fibres of fish and mouse muscle are somewhat different for these two species. The differences in pH, temperature and succinate sensitivity are the most prominent.     

Histochemistry of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in rat ovary. I. Amethodological study

By recording the incubation time needed for initial appearance of the red and blue formazans the reliability of the histochemical method for 3beta-HSD was investigated: 1. Prefixation of small tissue blocks with 1% W/V methanol-free formaldehyde (pH=7.2) for up to 30 min preserved morphological integrity as well as maximal enzyme activity. Moreover, the substantivity of formazans and lipids was enhanced. 2. Commercial available glutaraldehyde (pH=7.2) induced SH groups in the tissue (even at 0.1% W/V for 5 min) thereby enhancing the Nothing dehydrogenase reaction. 3. Preextraction of lipids with acetone for 20 min at -30 degree C caused no loss of activity and was an inevitable step if a reliable activity pattern had to be achieved (e.g. in interstitial cells). 4. No diffusion of enzyme was noticed within 30 min of preincubation in phosphate buffer (0.2 M, pH=7.2) at 20 degree C. 5. By using the double-section incubation method no diffusion of 3beta-HSD or rediffusion of NADH or PMSH could be noticed withn 45 min of incubation, provided that low concentrations of NAD (0.1 mg/ml) and PMS (0.003 mg/ml) were balanced against the concentration of Nitro BT (0.5 mg/ml) or Tetranitro BT (1.0mg/ml). 6. The utlity of different inhibitors of alkaline phosphomonoesterase was tested and discussed. 7. By inhibiting alkaline phosphomonoesterase with 0.1 mM of L-p-bromotetramisole or 16 mM of beta-glycerophosphate, 3beta-HSD was shown to be exclusively NAD-linked. 8. Levamisole was a potent inhibitor of NADH-tetrazolium reductase as well as 3 beta-HSD, but not of NADPH-tetrazolium reductase. 9. 3beta-HSD possess SH groups requisite for the activity as this enzyme was totally inhibited by N-ethyl maleimide. 10. Whether alcohol dehydrogenases may use steroids as substrate is discussed; It is concluded that preextraction (by acetone) and/or the use of an inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase (1,10-phenanthroline) has to be performed. 11. Propylene glycol was a poor solvent for all substrates and was itself an excellent substrate for alcohol dehydrogenase. 12. Specifications for the ideal solvent of steroid substrates in the histochemical practice are proposed. DMSO showed to be promising as a steroid solvent (e.g. extraction of formazans was considerably lower as compared to DMF). 13. The utilization of substrates was descending in the following order (using 1 mM and 0.1 ml/ml of either DMF or DMSO): epiandrosterone, methandriol, dehydroepiandrosterone and pregnenolone. 14. If DMSO was used as solvent for pregnenolone (but not for the other substrates tested) an evident increase of activity was recorded as compared to DMF.     

Initial reaction kinetics of succinate dehydrogenase in mouse liver studied with a real-time image analyser system.

The initial reaction kinetics of succinate dehydrogenase in situ were investigated in sections of mouse unfixed liver using an ARGUS-100 image analyser system. The sections were incubated on substrate-containing agarose gel films. Images of a section, illuminated with monochromatic light (584 nm), were captured with the image analyser in real time at intervals of 10 s during the incubation. The absorbances of selected hepatocytes in the successive images were determined as a function of time. In every cell, the absorbance increased nonlinearly after the first minute of incubation. The initial velocity of the dehydrogenase was calculated from the linear activities during the first 20 s of incubation. Hanes plots of the initial velocities and succinate concentration yielded the following mean kinetic constants. For periportal hepatocytes, the apparent Km = 1.2 +/- 0.8 mM and Vmax = 29 +/- 2 mumol hydrogen equivalents formed/cm3 hepatocyte cytoplasm per min. For pericentral hepatocytes, Km = 1.4 +/- 1.0 mM and Vmax = 21 +/- 2 mumol hydrogen equivalents/cm3 per min. The Km values are very similar to those determined previously from biochemical assays. These results, and the observed dependence of the initial velocity on the enzyme concentration, suggest that the technique reported here is valid for the histochemical assay of succinate dehydrogenase.     

Quantitative succinate-dehydrogenase histochemistry

Summary In enzyme histochemistry formazan production can be used as a measure for oxidative enzyme activity. The formazan deposits can be measured quantitatively per cell with a scanning and integrating microspectrophotometer. Optimal conditions are described for the estimation of histochemical succinate dehydrogenase activity in sections of fish bodymusculature and mouse soleus and plantaris muscle. It is shown that when proper measuring conditions are choosen a ditetrazolium salt (TNBT) can be used in quantitative enzyme histochemistry and that the optimal conditions for the histochemical succinate dehydrogenase reaction in muscle fibres of fish and mouse muscle are somewhat different for these two species. The differences in pH, temperature and succinate sensitivity are the most prominent.     

Peptide mapping and microsequencing of proteins separated by SDS-PAGE after limited in situ acid hydrolysis.

A method is described for the isolation of peptide fragments from proteins separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. After completion of the electrophoresis step, gels are stained with Ponceau S or Coomassie Blue. Gel portions containing protein stained with Ponceau S are excised and transferred to borosilicate glass digestion tubes containing 0.9 ml of 1 mM NaOH or 5 mM Na2HPO4. After complete dissociation of the dye from the protein, 0.1 ml of 20% formic acid is added and the protein is hydrolyzed in situ at 112 degrees C for four hours. Subsequently the acid solution is made 10% in acetonitrile and chromatographed as such on a C18 (C4) reversed-phase column using an appropriate large-volume sample loading syringe and injection loop. Proteins stained with Coomassie Blue can be hydrolyzed in situ after complete removal of the dye with an aqueous solution containing 40% acetone, 10% triethylamine and 5% acetic acid. The gel slices are next washed with HPLC-grade water and protein is hydrolyzed in 2% formic acid under standard conditions. Gel-related contaminants do not interfere with the peptide separation under the proper conditions of HPLC analysis.     

Evaluation of histochemical observations of activity of acid hydrolases obtained with semipermeable membrane techniques. 3. The substrate specificity of isoenzymes of acid phosphatase in m.gastrocnemius of rabbits.

Three distinct isoenzymes of acid phosphatase have been separated from extracts of m.gastrocnemius of normal and of vitamin E deficient rabbits by gel filtration and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These isoenzymes, termed I, II and III, have molecular weights of: 110,000--130,000, 60,000--78,000 and 12,500--14,500. Isoenzymes I and II split the substrates 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate and naphthol AS-BI phosphate and the activity is strongly increased in the muscles of vitamin E deficient rabbits. Isoenzyme III splits only 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate and the activity is not increased in the muscles of vitamin E deficient rabbits. The pH-optimum for isoenzymes I and II is 4.8 and for isoenzyme III 5.5. It has been shown that the histochemical semipermeable membrane technique, using substrate naphthol AS-BI phosphate, is a very reliable technique for demonstrating activity of the isoenzymes I and II in tissue sections. On the other hand, activity of isoenzyme III cannot be demonstrated with this histochemical technique. In pathologically altered muscles, the activity of the isoenzymes I and II is greatly increased whilst the activity of isoenzyme III is not significantly altered.     

Postirradiation sensitization of mammalian cells by the thiol-depleting agent dimethyl fumarate

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) depletes intracellular glutathione (GSH) by covalent bond formation in a reaction mediated by GSH-S-transferase. Treatment of hypoxic Chinese hamster V79 cells with 5 mM DMF before irradiation radiosensitizes the cells, resulting in an enhancement ratio (ER) of about 2.7 with minimal toxicity, when the end point is clonogenic cell survival. Under the same conditions aerobic cells are sensitized, and ER of about 1.3 is found, and GSH is reduced to about 3% of control. Very similar results were obtained previously with Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. In addition, new data presented here show that DMF treatment of V79 or CHO cells immediately after irradiation under hypoxic conditions sensitizes the cells, resulting in an ER of about 1.5, DMF treatment after irradiation under aerobic conditions results in an ER of 1.3, and this DMF treatment reduces protein thiols (PSH) to about 70% of control. When induction of DNA damage is measured using the neutral elution assay, treatment of V79 or CHO cells with DMF prior to irradiation under hypoxic conditions results in an ER of 1.9-2.0, but there is no enhancement of DNA damage when DMF is added after irradiation under hypoxic conditions or when cells are treated with DMF before or after irradiation under aerobic conditions. Based on these data we postulate that DMF radiosensitizes killing of hypoxic cells by two actions: depletion of GSH interferes with the chemical competition between damage fixation and repair, and depletion of PSH causes an inhibition of enzymatic repair processes. We also suggest that DMF sensitizes aerobic cells only by inhibition of enzymatic repair processes.     

Peptidases II. Localization of dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPP IV). Histochemical and biochemical study]

Fresh frozen, unfixed, chloroforme-acetone treated or freeze-dried cryostat sections or sections from aldehyde-fixed blocks of tissue were tried for the histochemical investigation of dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPP IV) with L-glycyl-L-prolyl(gly-pro)-naphthylamides as substrates and stable or unstable diazonium salts for simultaneous coupling and various buffers, pH 5--7.5 in rats, mice, guinea-pigs, cats, rabbits, hamsters and human enterobiopsies. The best results are obtained with 1.7--3.4 mM gly-pro-4-methoxy-2-naphthylamide and 1 mg Fast Blue B/ml or (with some limitations) 0.025 ml hexazotized new fuchsine/ml in 0.1 M cacodylate or phosphate buffer, pH 7.5 and unfixed sections for the demonstration of the total activity of DPP IV and freeze-dried celloidin-mounted cryostat sections for the precise localization of the enzyme or the detection of lysosomes, Golgi apparatus and secretion granules sections from aldehyde fixed tissue blocks are only suitable to study the lysosomal hydrolysis of gly-pro-naphthylamides between pH 5 and 7 when hexazotized p-rosaniline or new fuchsine are employed. DPP IV is firmly bound to strutures and shows species- and organ-dependent differences. In general, the enzyme occurs in the capillary endothelium, sinusoidal cells, perineurium, epithelial cells of intercalated and striated ducts, microvillous zone of intestinal crypts and villi, uterus, Fallopian tubes, ductus epididymis and proximal renal tubules, hepatocyte and lymphocyte membrane, plasmalemma of pseudostratified and transient epithelia and in the capsules and interstitium of many organs. These sites of activity can be completely inhibited by diisopropyl fluorophosphate and partially by Pb2+; Mg2+, Mn2+, Co2+ EDTA are without any influence. Phenantrolin may activate DPP IV. The biochemical assay works with 10 mM gly-pro-2-naphthylamide in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer, pH 7; the enzyme activity is determined fluorometrically in guinea-pig and rat organs; the data confirm and enlarge the species- and organ-dependent differences revealed by histochemistry. Compared with other dipeptide as well as tripeptide and amino acid naphthylamides the results obtained for DPP IV suggest a peptidylpeptidase which seems to be involved in other metabolic processes beside the degradation of collagen.     

Quantitative comparison between the gel-film and polyvinyl alcohol methods for dehydrogenase histochemistry reveals different intercellular distribution patterns of glucose-6-phosphate and lactate dehydrogenases in mouse liver

Summary The precise histochemical localization and quantification of the activity of soluble dehydrogenases in unfixed cryostat sections requires the use of tissue protectants. In this study, two protectants, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and agarose gel, were compared for assaying the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) in normal female mouse liver. Quantification of enzyme activity was determined cytophotometrically in periportal (PP), pericentral (PC) and midzonal (MZ) areas. No coloured reaction product was present in PVA media after the incubation period. In contrast, the agarose gels appeared to be highly coloured after incubation. As a consequence, sections incubated with gel media were less intensely stained than those incubated in PVA-containing media. The specific G6PDH reaction (test minus control) yielded approximately 75% less formazan in sections incubated by the agarose gel method than with the PVA method. Further, the amount of formazan deposits attributable to G6PDH activity was highest in the midzonal and pericentral zones of the liver lobule with PVA media, and Kupffer cells could be discriminated easily because of their high G6PDH activity. Significant zonal differences or Kupffer cells could not be observed when agarose gel films were used for the detection of G6PDH activity. The LDH localization patterns appeared to be more uniform after incubation with both methods: no significant differences in specific test minus control reactions were seen between PP, PC and MZ. However, less formazan production (33%) was detected in sections incubated with agarose gels when compared with those incubated with PVA media. These results clearly show that the gel method is not suitable for the valid demonstration of activity of (partially) soluble enzymes. Furthermore, our results confirm that a greater proportion of G6PDH than of LDH is present in a soluble form in liver cells.     

CYTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF LACTIC DEHYDROGENASE IN WHITE SKELETAL MUSCLE

The limitations of the conventional histochemical methods for localization of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in white skeletal muscle have been analyzed quantitatively. It is demonstrated that more than 80 per cent of LDH diffuses into the incubation medium within the first 10 minutes of incubation. Furthermore, it is confirmed that the addition of phenazine methosulfate (PMS) to the ingredients of the histochemical reaction for LDH increases substantially the capacity of the white muscle extract to reduce Nitro-BT. Based on these observations, a modified method of cytochemical localization of LDH has been developed. This method prevents the leakage of LDH from tissue sections by the application of all the ingredients of the histochemical reaction to tissue sections in a thin gelatin film. The incubation mixture contains PMS so that the staining system is independent of tissue diaphorase. The application of this method to the adductor magnus muscle of the rabbit revealed a fine reticulum in the sarcoplasm of all muscle fibers, in addition to the staining of mitochondria. The distribution of the staining suggests that LDH is localized in the sarcoplasmic reticulum.     

Microphotometric determination of enzymes in brain sections. V. Glycerophosphate dehydrogenases

An incubation medium was adapted for the microphotometric determination (kinetic and end-point measurements) of the activities of mitochondrial alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) in the rat hippocampus. For comparison, the activities of the cytoplasmic NAD-linked alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase were also measured. The study showed that in the demonstration of both enzymes the use of an exogenous electron carrier is necessary. Both enzymes react to phenazine methosulfate (PMS) which transfers reduction equivalents to the electron acceptor nitroblue tetrazolium chloride (NBT), thus causing a coreaction of GPDH in the demonstration of NAD-GPDH. Therefore, only the NAD-independent GPDH which is stimulated by menadione, can be selectively demonstrated in the histochemical procedure applied. The final incubation medium of GPDH consisted of 15 mM L-glycerol 3-phosphate, 5 mM NBT, 0.4 mM menadione, 7.5% polyvinyl alcohol in 0.5 M Hepes buffer, pH 8; the final pH of the incubation medium was 7.5. A linear response of the reaction lasted about 5 min. There was a linear relationship between section thickness and the formation of reaction product up to a section thickness of 14 microns. The apparent Km value at 25 degrees C was 0.6 mM. It is concluded that using menadione histochemical methods are suited to determine the mitochondrial GPDH activities in brain sections whereas using PMS a coreaction of GPDH takes place in the demonstration of NAD-GPDH, so that a histochemical quantification of NAD-GPDH cannot be recommended.     

Determination of the rate-limiting steps for malic enzyme by the use of isotope effects and other kinetic studies.

Isotope effects have been measured with Mg2+ as the activator and L-malate labeled with deuterium or tritium at carbon 2 as the substrate over the pH range 4-10. Comparison of the nearly pH-independent deuterium-isotope effect on V/Kmalate of 1.5 with the tritium effect of 2.0 by the method of Northrop (Northrop, D.B. (1975), Biochemistry 14, 2644) gives limits on the true effect of deuterium substitution on the bond-breaking step of 5-8 in the forward reaction and 4-6.5 in the reverse direction. Comparison of the deuterium effect on V/K with the 13C-isotope effect of 1.031 reported by Schimerlik et al. (Schimerlik, M.I., Rife, J.E., and Cleland, W.W. (1975), Biochemistry 14, 5347) allows the deduction that at pH 8 reverse hydride transfer is six to eight times faster than decarboxylation, which is thus largely rate limiting for the catalytic reaction. The absence of a deuterium-isotope effect on V at pH 7-8 and comparison of the Ki of pyruvate as an uncompetitive inhibitor of the forward reaction and a substrate for the reverse reaction indicate that at neutral pH the release of TPNH from enzyme-reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide (E-TPNH) is the rate-limiting step in the forward direction. The observation of a deuterium effect on V that approaches 3 at pH 4 and 10 shows, however, that, at very low and very high pH, hydride transfer may become partly rate limiting. In the reverse reaction, the probable rate-limiting step at pH 7 is the isomerization of E-TPNH, while at pH 8.5 and above V becomes too large to measure and appears infinite. Substitution of Co2+, Ni2+, or low levels of Mn2+ for Mg2+ gives similar deuterium-isotope effects, although the values of V and Kmalate vary considerably with metal. The kinetics of Mn2+ show pronounced negative cooperativity, with Km values of 7 muM and 5 mM for concentration ranges from 4 to 100 muM and over 1 mM.     

Freeze substituted tissue in 5'-nucleotidase histochemistry. Comparative histochemical and biochemical investigations

The suitability of freeze-substitution in n-butanol and paraffin embedding of tissues for the histochemical demonstration of 5'-nucleotidase was investigated and compared with commonly used preparation techniques, such as fresh frozen sections and cryostate sections of cold formalin and glutaraldehyde-fixed rat liver. The influences of each step of the preparation techniques on the enzyme activity were controlled by a quantitative radiochemical assay. Freeze substitution was revealed to be superior to the commonly used preparation techniques with respect to: 1) high sensitivity and specificity of the histochemical 5'-nucleotidase reaction (this is based on the fact that incubation media with very low lead concentrations (0,6 mM/1) can be used); 2) excellent morphological appearance of the tissues showing cytological details of enzyme localization; 3) unlimited storage of the tissue materials and ease of sectioning.     

Studies on the optimalisation and standardisation of the light microscopical succinate dehydrogenase histochemistry

The present investigation was undertaken in order to establish an optimal tissue pretreatment and an optimal incubation medium for the histochemical demonstration of succinate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.3.99.1). The investigations were performed on steroid producing (testicle, adrenal gland) and steroid dependent (Fallopian tube) tissues. We studied the influences fo formalin fixation, acetone, magnesium ions, cyanides, electron carries (phenazine methosulfate, menadione coenzyme Q10), osmolarity, substrate concentration and inhibitors (oxalacetate, oxalate, malonate, 4-chloromercuribenzoic acid). The following procedure yields blameless morphological integrity and enzyme localization as well as optimal SDH-activity: Freezing of tissue cubes (diameter less than 5 mm) in propane cooled with liquid nitrogen or in melting freon. Incubation of 5 micrometer cryostat sections in narrow jars in the following medium (38.5 ml):--10 ml of 0.2 M sodium phosphate buffer pH 7.6 (52 mM).--18 mg tetranitro-BT in 0.5 ml dimethylformamide and aqua bidest. ad 10 ml (0.5 mM).--2.6 mg KCN in 16 ml aqua bidest. (1 mM).--540 mg succinate (disodium salt, hexahydrate) in 2 ml aqua bidest. (52 mM).--3 mg PMS (phenazine methosulfate) in 0.5 ml aqua bidest. (0.25 mM). The incubation medium has an osmolarity of 440 mosm. The incubation is carried out for 10 min at 37 degree C in darkness. To avoid non specific formazan deposits in lipid containing tissues a preincubation of the cryostat sections in 100% acetone at--22 degree C or--40 degree C for 7--10 min and an incubation time of 20--30 min is recommended. Control incubations adduced proof at the specificity of the SDH demonstration. Parallel incubation without PMS in order to determine indirectly the content of endogenous CoQ10 is further recommended.     

Simultaneous histochemical assay of two dehydrogenases in the same cell

A new approach has been developed for the simultaneous assay of the activities of two enzymes (lactate and succinate dehydrogenases) in the same cell in sections of unfixed liver. The sections, mounted on coverslips, were placed on top of 0.6-mm thick 0.8% low gelling-temperature agarose films containing the substrates of both enzymes (70 mM lactate and 50 mM succinate, respectively) plus 80 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.5), 5 mM EDTA, 10 mM NaN3, 1.5 mM NAD+, 1.2 mM Nitro BT and 0.26 mM phenazine methosulphate. The integrated absorbance (A) at 585 nm of the final reaction product formazans deposited by the two enzymes in a selected hepatocyte was measured continuously at 37 degrees C as a function of incubation time, using a Vickers M85 microdensitometer. The intercept A0 on the A-axis of the linear regression line of A on time was determined. After a known incubation time t, the absorbance A1, was noted and the section placed on another gel film lacking the substrates in order to estimate the final reaction product either formed in the gel film or lost from the cell. The absorbance A2 of the hepatocyte was remeasured. The reaction velocities (activities) vL and vS of lactate and succinate dehydrogenases, respectively, were calculated from the following equations: vL = [(A1-A2) - A0(1- alpha L)]/(1-alpha L)t and vS = (A2-alpha LA1)/(1-alpha L)t where alpha L = A2/A1 for hepatocytes incubated on gel films containing only lactate as the substrate. This parameter was found to be virtually constant (0.44) over a wide range of vL.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The histochemical demonstration of aniline hydroxylase activity in rat liver

Synopsis A procedure is described for the histochemical demonstration of aniline hydroxylase activity in cryostat sections of rat liver. Tissue sections are incubated in a medium containing aniline; thep-aminophenol formed as a result of enzymatic action is coupledin situ with Fast Blue RR. The staining reaction is found to be confined to the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes. Confirmatory tests for true enzymatic staining reaction include the incubation of sections in medium from which aniline is omitted, and under conditions of enzyme inhibibition. A method for the quantitation of the histochemical staining reaction is also described.The histochemical reactions have been investigated on rat livers subjected to conditions eliciting microsomal enzyme stimulation and inhibition, bothin vitro andin vivo. A close correlation was found between the staining reactions observed and the results of the quantitative histochemical method and the biochemical estimations of aniline hydroxylase activity in liver microsomal fractions obtained by differential centrifugation.     

Purification and characterization of the nuclear cytidine 5'-monophosphate N-acetylneuraminic acid synthetase from rat liver.

N-Acetylneuraminic acid cytidylyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.43) (CAMP-NeuAc synthetase) from rat liver catalyzes the formation of cytidine monophosphate N-acetylneuraminic acid from CTP and NeuAc. We have purified this enzyme to apparent homogeneity (241-fold) using gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200 and two types of affinity chromatographies (Reactive Brown-10 Agarose and Blue Sepharose CL-6B columns). The pure enzyme, whose amino acid composition and NH2-terminal amino acid sequence are also established, migrates as a single protein band on non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular mass of the native enzyme, estimated by gel filtration, was 116 +/- 2 kDa whereas its Mr in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was 58 +/- 1 kDa. CMP-NeuAc synthetase requires Mg2+ for catalysis although this ion can be replaced by Mn2+, Ca2+, or Co2+. The optimal pH was 8.0 in the presence of 10 mM Mg2+ and 5 mM dithiothreitol. The apparent Km for CTP and NeuAc are 1.5 and 1.3 mM, respectively. The enzyme also converts N-glycolylneuraminic acid to its corresponding CMP-sialic acid (Km, 2.6 mM), whereas CMP-NeuAc, high CTP concentrations, and other nucleotides (CDP, CMP, ATP, UTP, GTP, and TTP) inhibited the enzyme to different extents.