Localization of cathepsin B activity in fibroblasts and chondrocytes by continuous monitoring of the formation of a final fluorescent reaction product using 5-nitrosalicylaldehyde

Summary The histochemical fluorescence method using 5-nitrosalicylaldehyde for the demonstration of cathepsin B activity has been used. Precipitation of the fluorescent final reaction product was analysed continuously during incubation for cathepsin B activity. Unfixed cultured human fibroblasts as well as cryostat sections of mouse metacarpal bone explants were used. Continuous monitoring of the formation of the fluorescent reaction product showed that after a certain lag phase, depending on the enzyme activity in the tissue, discrete granules appeared which became increasingly fluorescent with incubation time. Subsequently, recrystallization and redistribution of the final reaction product started to occur. It is concluded that the coupling reaction with 5-nitrosalicylaldehyde is sufficiently fast for a proper localization of proteinase activity and can be used for kinetic analysis of enzyme activity. The method provides indications of relative amounts of cathepsin B activity in different cell types within a tissue section. It appeared from the study on metacarpal bone explants that fibroblasts in perichondrium and periosteum contained a relatively high cathepsin B activity whereas chondrocytes showed a low but distinct activity. This observation suggests that cysteine proteinases are not only involved in collagen degradation by fibroblasts but that they also play a role in the intracellular digestion of collagen by chondrocytes.     

Original method for the histochemical demonstration of tripeptidyl aminopeptidase I.

The original histochemical method for the visualization of tripeptidyl aminopeptidase I (TPP I, EC 3.4.14.9) is developed. The method is based on the new synthetic substrates Gly-L-Pro-L-Met(or L-Ala)-5-chloro-1-anthraquinonyl hydrazide (Gly-Pro-Met[Ala]-CAH). The final reaction product is represented as tripeptidyl-5-chloro-1 anthraquinonyl hydrazides (TPP-CAH). Upon the enzyme action the practically in aqueous media insoluble brown-reddish dye 5-chloro-1-anthraquinonyl hydrazine (CAH) is released, which reacts simultaneously with aromatic aldehydes as e.g. 4-anisaldehyde (p-AA) or 4-nitrobenzaldehyde (p-NBA), resulting in microcrystalline or amorphous deeply colored hydrazones. The last compounds mark accurately the locations of enzymatic activity. The biochemically suggested lysosomal localization of this collagen-degrading exopeptidase is thus confirmed on tissue sections. More information about the distribution of TPP I in different rat organs is presented as well.     

Microphotometric dynamic analysis of the histochemical acetylcholinesterase reaction

Dynamic analysis of the histochemical reaction of Karnovsky-Roots for acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) is reported. Two methods were used. The first method was videography and densitometric analysis of frames from the film. The second method was direct microphotometric analysis of the reaction dynamics by the plug-method (measurement of average light transmission through a limited area of preparation or image). Special microchambers were used on the stage of an inverted microscope. The results showed the dynamics of final product accumulation in two structures of rat caudate nucleus: AChE-positive neuropil and the AChE-negative myelin bundle during histochemical incubation. Videography and densitometry of the digital images allowed morphologic and microphotometric analysis of changes in tissue sections during incubation, and the dynamic analysis permitted the study of enzyme kinetics in situ. Problems associated with microphotometric analysis of digital images for quantitative histochemical studies of the enzyme activity are discussed.     

Microphotometric dynamic analysis of the histochemical acetylcholinesterase reaction

Dynamic analysis of the histochemical reaction of Karnovsky-Roots for acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) is reported. Two methods were used. The first method was videography and densitometric analysis of frames from the film. The second method was direct microphotometric analysis of the reaction dynamics by the plug-method (measurement of average light transmission through a limited area of preparation or image). Special microchambers were used on the stage of an inverted microscope. The results showed the dynamics of final product accumulation in two structures of rat caudate nucleus: AChE-positive neuropil and the AChE-negative myelin bundle during histochemical incubation. Videography and densitometry of the digital images allowed morphologic and microphotometric analysis of changes in tissue sections during incubation, and the dynamic analysis permitted the study of enzyme kinetics in situ. Problems associated with microphotometric analysis of digital images for quantitative histochemical studies of the enzyme activity are discussed.     

Enzyme histochemical reactions in unfixed and undecalcified cryostat sections of mouse knee joints with special reference to arthritic lesions

Summary The use of unfixed and undecalcified cryostat sections of mouse knee joints is described for the study of enzyme histochemical reactions. Non-inflamed knee joints and knee joints of mice with antigen induced arthritis have been used. Joints were embedded in gelatin and subsequently cut at low speed with a motor-driven cryostat fitted with a tungsten carbide knife at an obtuse angle (10°). The sections were attached to transparent tape to keep the integrity of the tissue intact. The following histochemical reactions were carried out succesfully: the tetrazolium salt reaction for dehydrogenase and reductase activity, the post-azocoupling method for acid phosphatase and cathepsin B activity and the simultaneous azo-coupling method for esterase activity. In all cases the morphology and integrity of the sections were well kept and serial sections were obtained without any difficulty. Nonspecific staining of the tape did not occur. The localization of the final reaction product was meeting criteria for specific and precise histochemical methods with the exception of the metal salt method because of nonspecific staining of undecalcified bone. Cytophotometry of the final reaction product appeared to be reproducible and valid as demonstrated by reaction for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in synoviocytes from knee joints with induced arthritis. End point measurements as well as kinetic measurements of the formazan production were performed and linear relationships were found between the specific formazan formation and section thickness or incubation time, respectively. It is concluded that cryostat sections attached to transparent tape are an excellent tool for the study of the metabolism in tissues adjacent to bone matrix. Changes of enzyme activities in synoviocytes, chondrocytes and osteoclasts during induced arthritis are discussed.     

The effects of lethal procedures on the histochemical localization of acid hydrolases

Summary The distribution and activities, as revealed by histochemical techniques, of acid phosphatase, -glucuronidase, arylsulphatase and -galactosidase in the kidney, liver and skeletal muscle of rats and dystrophic hamsters killed by each of the following methods were studied: overdose of ether, chloroform and nembutal anaesthesia, immersion in liquid air, stunning followed by decapitation, and carbon dioxide asphyxiation.In rats killed with overdoses of ether or chloroform, the activity of acid phosphatase in sections of formaldehyde-fixed kidney was, it was found, less than that in decapitated ones. Sometimes the activity was abolished completely. The intensity of colour, the particulate granularity and the distribution of final reaction product normally obtained for other acid hydrolases and tissues were also affected, e.g. the distribution was more diffuse. Often the minimum time of incubation for the final reaction product to appear was shortened. One example where this happened was the activity of arylsulphatase against 6-benzoyl-2-naphthyl sulphate. The activities of the three other enzymes studied were affected in the same way but to a different degree. However, killing animals with nembutal or liquid air or by decapitation seemed to have little effect on the activities of any of lysosomal enzymes investigated.In order to obtain a reproduceable localization of strong acid hydrolase activity in a particulate form (presumably indicative of lysosomes), it is necessary to bring experimental animals to a basal physiological condition by isolating them overnight away from other animals before killing them (with nembutal or by stunning and decapitation) after a substantial period of rest.     

A cytophotometric and electron-microscopical study on catalase activity in serial cryostat sections of rat liver

Summary The validity of the histochemical procedure for demonstrating catalase activity in cryostat sections of rat liver at the light-and electron-microscopical level was studied cytophotometrically. Incubations in the presence of 5 mm diaminobenzidine, 44 mm hydrogen peroxide and 2% polyvinyl alcohol performed on fixed cryostat sections resulted in the highest amounts of final reaction product precipitated in a fine granular form which was specific for catalase activity. Serial sections processed for electron microscopy indicated that the osmiophilic final reaction product was exclusively localized in the matrix and core of peroxisomes. The relationship between incubation time and the amounts of final reaction product generated by catalase activity as measured at 460 nm in mid-zonal areas of liver lobules showed non-linearity for the test-minus-control reaction because first-order inactivation of the enzyme occurred during incubation. Linearity of the test-minus-control reaction and section thickness was observed up to 8 m. Catalase in rat liver showed a K_m value of 2.0 mm for its substrate hydrogen peroxide when the diaminobenzidine concentration was 5 mm. It is concluded that the procedure for demonstrating catalase activity in serial cryostat sections of rat liver at the light- and electron-microscopical level is specific and can be applied to quantitative purposes. This approach may be useful in pathology, when only small biopsies are available, when the tissue is heterogeneous, and when other histochemical markers also need to be studied in the same material.     

A theoretical study of concentration of profiles of primary cytochemical-enzyme reaction products in membrane-bound cell organelles and its application to lysosomal acid phosphatase

Synopsis A numerical method was developed for computing the steady-state concentration gradient of a diffusible enzyme reaction product in a membrane-limited compartment of a simplified theoretical cell model. In cytochemical enzyme reactions proceeding according to the metal-capture principle, the local concentration of the primary reaction product is an important factor in the onset of the precipitation process and in the distribution of the final reaction product. The following variables were incorporated into the model: enzyme activity, substrate concentration,K _m, diffusion coefficient of substrate and product, particle radius and cell radius.The method was applied to lysosomal acid phosphatase. Numerical values for the variables were estimated from experimental data in the literature. The results show that the calculated phosphate concentrations inside lysosomes are several orders of magnitude lower than the critical concentrations for efficient phosphate capture found in a previous experimental model study. Reasons for this apparent discrepancy are discussed.     

New method for the histochemical demonstration of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase I activity using a novel anthraquinoyl hydrazide substrate.

A new method for the histochemical localization of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase I (DPP I, cathepsin C), based on a newly synthesized substrate-Gly-L-Phe-5-chloro-1-anthraquinoyl hydrazide.HCl (Gly-Phe-CAH), is proposed. The enzyme activity liberates 5-chloro-1-anthraquinoyl hydrazine (CAH)--a water-insoluble brown-reddish compound, which precipitates on the enzyme locations. The primary reaction product reacts simultaneously or, otherwise, by post-coupling with p-anisaldehyde (p-AA), thus converting to the reddish-violet amorphous hydrazone--the final reaction product. The validity of enzyme localization is thus assured by the insolubility of the primary reaction product and does not depend on the rate of the second reaction step. The enzyme studied is successfully localized in different rat organs using the newly proposed technique.     

A direct-colouring, metal precipitation method for the demonstration of arylsulphatases A and B

Summary A new, direct-colouring, metal precipitation method for the light microscopical demonstration of arylsulphatases A and B is described. It is based on the reducing capacity of nitrocatechol liberated by arylsulphatases fromp-nitrocatechol sulphate. The reaction is carried out in Karnovsky-Roots' copper ferricyanide incubation mixture at pH 5.0 or 5.5; the nitrocatechol liberated reduces ferricyanide to ferrocyanide, which in turn forms a brown precipitate with copper that indicates enzyme activity. Enzyme activity was localized in cytoplasmic particles compatible with a lysosomal localization of the enzyme. The histochemical reaction was inhibited by phosphate, which has been shown to inhibit arylsulphatases A and B in biochemical determinations. The method described is technically simple, and sections can be mounted in synthetic resin after dehydration.     

Histochemical localization of production and secretion of trypsin in the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris

Summary The origin of trypsin in the digestive tract of Lumbricus terrestris was localized by using the chromogenic tryptic substrate carbobenzyloxy-L-arginine--napthylamide HCl (CANA) coupled with the azo dye Fast Garnet GBC. The specificity of earthworm trypsin toward the naphthylamide substrate was confirmed by disc gel electrophoresis of homogenates of the digestive tract and of intestinal fluid. Eluted fractions were assayed for tryptic activity using the synthetic substrates benzoyl-DL-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BAPA) and p-toluenesulfonyl-L-arginine methyl ester (TAME). The peak of activity toward these substrates corresponded in electrophoretic mobility to the band of CANA activity and all activities were abolished in the presence of the tryptic inhibitor N-tosyl-L-lysyl chloromethane HCl (TLCK).In frozen sections of the pharynx, esophagus, crop, gizzard and intestine, tryptic (CANA) activity was localized consistently only in the ventral and lateral fold epithelium of the pharynx. The chromogenic reaction was completely inhibited by pre-incubation of frozen sections with TLCK.Tissues from three regions of the pharynx were fixed and studied in an attempt to correlate electron microscopic observations with the histochemical results. Whereas mucousproducing cells are generally distributed in pharyngeal epithelium, heterogeneous spherical granules were found only in the ventral and lateral fold epithelium. Observations concerning the spherical secretory granules closely paralleled those of the histochemical reaction product suggesting that the spherical secretory granules may contain the tryptic enzyme.The authors wish to thank Ruth D. Merz and Sandra K. Elson for their technical assistance. The investigation was supported in part by funds to the Instrumentation Laboratories and from the Faculty Research Committee of Miami University.     

In situ heterogeneity of peroxisomal oxidase activities: An update

Summary Oxidases are a widespread group of enzymes. They are present in numerous organisms and organs and in various tissues, cells, and subcellular compartments, such as mitochondria. An important source of oxidases, which is investigated and discussed in this study, are the (micro)peroxisomes. Oxidases share the ability to reduce molecular oxygen during oxidation of their substrate, yielding an oxidized product and hydrogen peroxide. Besides the hydrogen peroxide-catabolizing enzyme catalase, peroxisomes contain one or more hydrogen peroxide-generating oxidases, which participate in different metabolic pathways. During the last four decades, various methods have been developed and elaborated for the histochemical localization of the activities of these oxidases. These methods are based either on the reduction of soluble electron acceptors by oxidase activity or on the capture of hydrogen peroxide. Both methods yield a coloured and/or electron dense precipitate. The most reliable technique in peroxisomal oxidase histochemistry is the cerium salt capture method. This method is based on the direct capture of hydrogen peroxide by cerium ions to form a fine crystalline, insoluble, electron dense reaction product, cerium perhydroxide, which can be visualized for light microscopy with diaminobenzidine. With the use of this technique, it became clear that oxidase activities not only vary between different organisms, organs, and tissues, but that heterogeneity also exists between different cells and within cells, i.e. between individual peroxisomes. A literature review, and recent studies performed in our laboratory, show that peroxisomes are highly differentiated organelles with respect to the presence of active enzymes. This study gives an overview of thein situ distribution and heterogeneity of peroxisomal enzyme activities as detected by histochemical assays of the activities of catalase, and the peroxisomal oxidasesd-amino acid oxidase,l--hydroxy acid oxidase, polyamine oxidase and uric acid oxidase.     

Quantitative assessment of primary cerium reaction product formed by glucose-6-phosphatase activity in a male rat liver: an image analysis study

 Glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) activity has been determined in periportal and pericentral areas of the liver of normal male rats. Measurements were performed on unfixed cryostat sections mounted on semipermeable membranes. In the present study, the oxidized primary reaction product of a cerium-based histochemical method [Ce(IV)perhydroxyphosphate] instead of the final reaction product after a second-step incubation was measured. For quantification of the amount of Ce(IV)perhydroxyphosphate formed the digital image analyzing system Quantimet 500+ was used. Estimated values of optical densities of Ce(IV)perhydroxyphosphate over test areas were employed for calculation of kinetic parameters of (G6Pase). Highest activities of G6Pase (higher K _m and V _max levels) were found in periportal areas of the rat liver, indicating a higher amount of active enzyme molecules and a lower affinity for the substrate. Differences in values for both K _m and V _max between periportal and pericentral zones were highly significant and closely comparable to those for male fed rats. Correlations between K _m and V _max were significant for periportal as well for pericentral liver areas. The results of the present study thus allow the same biological implications as histochemical methods employing a final reaction for quantification of enzyme activities. The present method avoids the drawbacks of enhancement reactions and demonstrates the feasibility of in situ analysis of enzyme kinetic parameters by quantification of oxidized primary cerium reaction products. Accepted: 8 January 1996     

Detection of endogenous and immuno-bound peroxidase — The status Quo in histochemistry

The discovery of synthetic dyes goes back to 1856 and launched the development of the whole chemical and pharmaceutical industry. In life sciences synthetic dyes represent indispensable tools for the microscopic and macroscopic level. Small dyes have the advantage of their easy adaptability to various measuring equipments. By way of structural modification of the chromophore portion, dye labels can be tailored that they absorb and emit light at desired wavelengths ranging from the UV to the near infrared region of the spectrum. Assisted by the development of light measuring techniques and the commercial availability of highly sensitive equipment, today luminescent labels represent most sensitive detection tools in life sciences and dominate over chromogen based techniques. However, for detection of active sites of peroxidase (PO) so far fluorescent labels have been confined to only a few substrates while a broad variety of well-established chromogenic techniques exist. This review covers fluorescent and chromogenic approaches for the permanent detection of immuno-bound and endogenous PO-activity in fixed cells and tissues. Thereby the tailoring of suitable dye labels is additionally challenged by two demands: (1) The applied dye (or its precursor) must act as enzyme substrate specifically and (2) the enzymatic impact must furnish an insoluble dye product from easy soluble starting materials in a very quick reaction. Hence it is not surprising that among PO-substrates (and enzyme substrates generally), dye conjugates represent only an exception while most of these labels represent reactive dyes or suitable precursors. Chromogenic and fluorescent approaches for the permanent labeling of enzymatic sites are compiled. Furthermore, various area-spanning PO-detection principles are discussed ranging from transmission light (TLM) and fluorescence light (FLM) microscopy (chromogenes, flourochromes, fluorescent chromogenes, chromogenes with nonlinear optical properties) to correlated transmission electron microscopy (TEM; photoconversion of specific chromogenic reaction products, electron opaque and/or osmiophilic chromogenic substrates). Also, approaches for reflectance laser microscopy (RLM), polarization microscopy (PM), and correlative TLM, FLM, and multiphoton fluorescence microscopy (MFM) are discussed.     

Improved cytologic localisation ofβ-glucuronidase in sections treated with ethanol

Summary Treatment of fixed frozen sections of rat kidney with 40–60% ethanol for 2 minutes at 0° C improved the cytologic localisation of-glucuronidase in naphthol AS-BI post-coupling technique. Concentration of ethanol, duration of treatment and temperature are critical. Higher concentrations of ethanol, longer treatment and higher temperatures deteriorate the normal localisation of the enzyme. Such pretreatment can he introduced as a step in the original histochemical technique.     

Listeria: growth,phenotypic differentiation and molecular microbiology

The identification of Listeria species is based on a limited number of biochemical markers, among which absence or presence of hemolysis and arylamidase are used to differentiate between L. monocytogenes and L. innocua. The CAMP (Christie, Atkins, Munch-Petersen) test must be interpreted with caution. Chromogenic media are based on both the specific chromogenic detection of phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C and the xylose fermentation and give specific and direct identification of L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii. Isolates of L. monocytogenes with atypical properties require tools of molecular biology for final identification. Serotyping, although not allowing speciation, serves a useful purpose for confirming the genus diagnosis Listeria. Polymerase chain reaction is particularly useful when prior administration of antimicrobial agents compromises culture. For clinical specimens the importance of trying to isolate the pathogen as a prerequisite for an epidemiological work-up and finally for prevention of further cases cannot be overstressed.     

Quantitative evaluation of the trapping reaction of copperthiocholine histochemical procedures for localization of cholinesterases

Summary The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the trapping reaction of the histochemical procedure for the localization of ChE of Koelle and Friedenwald (1949) and its modification by Brzin and Pucihar (1976) proceeds quantitatively. The weight of the precipitate formed in the tissue sample during the histochemical procedure was compared with enzyme activity of an equal sample. The differential magnetic microbalance was used for measurements of reduced weight and for previous determination of density of the precipitate. The evidence for the composition of the final product was drawn from the quantitative analysis of copper and iodine and from the infrared spectra.Tsuji's statement (1974) that cuprous copper thiocholine iodide is the final product of histochemical procedures investigated was confirmed. It was found that the trapping reaction of the original as well as of the modified procedure under our experimental conditions in tissue sections proceeds quantiatively which means that one of the basic conditions for reliable localization is fulfilled.This work was supported by the grant of Research Association of Slovenia and NIH Grant No 02-008-1, Z-ZF-6     

Use of tissue-free glycol methacrylate sections as semi-permeable membranes: a simple way to shorten incubation times and to improve localization in enzyme histochemistry

Placing 2-microns sections of tissue-free glycol methacrylate on top of tissue sections is a simple way of forming semipermeable membranes to enhance enzyme histochemical staining. For demonstrating alkaline phosphatase in glycol methacrylate-embedded kidney by a standard azo dye method, such membranes enabled incubation times to be reduced to 1-2 hr, with azo dye reaction product being more crisply localized as compared to sections stained without membranes. Such effects are possible because the membranes are highly permeable to small molecules (e.g., substrate and diazonium salt), slightly permeable to molecules of moderate size (e.g., the final reaction product), and impermeable to large molecules (e.g., alkaline phosphatase and other tissue biopolymers). The implications of these findings for enzyme histochemistry and for enzyme-labeled antibody staining are discussed.     

In-situ enzyme histochemistry on plastic-embedded plant material. The development of an artefact-free β-glucuronidase assay

An in-situ enzyme histochemical method is described that preserves the tissue and cell structure as well as the enzyme activities. Flower buds at different developmental stages from wild-type and transgenic Brassica napus plants, the latter containing the GUS gene under the control of a tapetum-specific promoter, were used as starting material. The method is based on the following principles: processing of the tissue on crushed ice, no fixation but a pretreatment with spermidine, partial dehydration with acetone, and a final embedding in a water-miscible glycol methacrylate resin at 5°C. This method was used to set up a sensitive p-glucuronidase histochemical assay with a high resolution. A succinate dehydrogenase assay was included as a control for tissue and cell viability as well as a standard for the relative metabolic activities between different tissues and cell types.     

Vector Alkaline Phosphatase Substrate Blue III: One Substrate for Brightfield Histochemistry and High-resolution Fluorescence Imaging by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy

A number of histochemical chromogenic substrates for alkaline phosphatase are commercially available and give reaction products with a range of colours for brightfield examination. Some of these reaction products are also fluorescent, exhibiting a wide excitation range and a broad emission peak. We report here that one of these substrates, Vector Blue III, yields a stable, strongly fluorescent reaction product with an excitation peak around 500 nm and a large Stokes shift to an emission peak at 680 nm. The reaction product can be excited using a mercury lamp with a fluorescein excitation filter or an argon ion laser at 488 nm or 568 nm, and the emission detected using a long-pass filter designed for Cy-5. Thus, a single substrate is suitable for brightfield imaging of tissue sections and high-resolution analysis of subcellular detail, using a confocal laser scanning microscope, in the same specimen.