Alkaline phosphatase and dipeptidylpeptidase IV staining of tissue components of skeletal muscle: a comparative study.

A combined alkaline phosphatase (AP) and dipeptidlypeptidase IV (DPP IV) staining reaction has demonstrated enzymatic heterogeneity of the arterial and venous segments of capillaries in rat skeletal muscle. This study compared the staining reactions of skeletal muscles in many commonly used laboratory animals, including the axolotl, chick, quail, Monodelphys, rat, mouse, hamster, guinea pig, rabbit, dog, monkey, and human. DPP IV activity was found in the venous ends of the capillaries and in the endothelium of some larger veins in many of the species but was never demonstrated in the arterial side of the circulation. AP was found in the arterial ends of capillaries in all species except the axolotl, and it was also found in the endothelium of larger arteries of most species. AP activity was absent in venous endothelium of all species except for birds and Monodelphys. DPP IV activity was found in the perineurium of intramuscular nerves of most species, and AP activity was commonly seen in tendons and intramuscular connective tissue. The interspecies variability found in this study shows that care must be taken in comparing experimental data involving this technique from one species to another, but within a species the technique allows a fine level of discrimination between functionally distinct compounds of skeletal muscle tissue.     

Cytophotometric analysis of alkaline phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase activity in regenerating rat liver after partial hepatectomy

Alkaline phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase activities were analysed cytophotometrically in cryostat sections of female rat liver after partial hepatectomy. Alkaline phosphatase activity increased rapidly after operation up to a maximum seven-fold rise at 24 h in comparison with sham operated or control rats. There was no indication of preferential localization of alkaline phosphatase activity in either periportal or pericentral areas at any time point in control rats, sham operated rats or hepatectomized rats. Microscopical observation revealed that (a) all alkaline phosphatase activity was present at the bile canalicular surface of hepatocytes and (b) hepatocytes in mitosis did not show any increase in activity. These findings indicate that the high alkaline phosphatase activity after partial hepatectomy is not involved primarily in proliferation processes because cell division mainly takes place periportally. It may be needed for enhanced bile secretion by conversion of intracellular phosphorylcholine into choline which can be transported into the bile. The intracellular phosphorylcholine level is high after operation due to changes in phospholipid metabolism. 5'-Nucleotidase appeared to be three times higher pericentrally than periportally under normal conditions. Partial hepatectomy caused a 40 per cent decrease in activity in pericentral areas and only a small decrease periportally. It has been suggested that 5'-nucleotidase plays a role in breakdown of messenger RNA and its activity in control liver could be considerably lower periportally because plasma protein synthesis mainly takes place in this area.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Potential inhibitors of rat tooth alkaline phosphatase studied by means of different histochemical techniques.

Two histochemical methods for demonstration of alkaline phosphatase activity, a lead pyrophosphate- anda naphtholphosphate technique, were compared. Since different results may be due to methodological differences as well as different enzyme activities, the enzymatic hydrolysis of the naphtholphosphate was visualized both by means of an azo-dye coupler and by lead-capturing of the liberated phosphate ion. Various potential inhibitors of alkaline phosphatase activity (diphosphonate, D-penicillamine, and sodium fluoride) were also tested. The use of diphosphonate and D-penicillamine resulted in inhibited or reduced staining, which could mainly be explained by an interference by these compounds with components in the incubation media rather than with the enzyme itself. The addition of sodium fluoride had no effect on the naphtholphosphate staining pattern irrespective of capturing method, whereas the odontoblastic pyrophosphate splitting alkaline phosphatase appeared to be sensitive to sodium fluoride, suggesting the presence of two alkaline phosphatases in odontoblasts.     

Localization of collagens and alkaline phosphatase activity during mineralization and ossification of human first rib cartilage

The localization of type X collagen and alkaline phosphatase activity was examined in order to gain a better understanding of tissue remodelling during development of human first rib cartilage. First rib cartilages from children and adolescents showed no staining for type X collagen and alkaline phosphatase activity. After onset of mineralization in the late second decade, a peripheral ossification process preceded by mineralized fibrocartilage could be distinguished from a more central one preceded by mineralized hyaline cartilage. No immunostaining for type X collagen was found in either type of cartilage. However, strong staining for alkaline phosphatase activity was detected around chondrocyte-like cells within fibrocartilage adjacent to the peripheral mineralization front, while a weaker staining pattern was observed around chondrocytes of hyaline cartilage near the central mineralization front. In addition, the territorial matrix of some chondrocytes within the hyaline cartilage revealed staining for type I collagen, suggesting that these cells undergo a dedifferentiation process, which leads to a switch from type II to type I collagen synthesis. The study provides evidence that mineralization of the hyaline cartilage areas in human first rib cartilage occurs in the absence of type X collagen synthesis but in the presence of alkaline phosphatase. Thus, mineralization of first rib cartilage seems to follow a different pattern from endochondral ossification in epiphyseal discs.     

Light microscopic localization of alkaline phosphatase in fetal bovine bone using immunoperoxidase and immunogold-silver staining procedures

We localized alkaline phosphatase in the metaphyses of fetal bovine tibial bone by use of avidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase and immunogold-silver staining procedures. Low melting-point, paraffin-embedded sections of periodate lysine-paraformaldehyde-fixed undecalcified bone were used for immunostaining. We suggest that the combination of intact embryonic bone with this fixative and the immunohistochemical procedures used in this study may have helped to preserve antigenicity and thus to improve the efficiency of immunolabeling. Similar patterns of alkaline phosphatase localization were produced by the immunoperoxidase and immunogold-silver staining methods. The latter, although free of immunoreagents such as diaminobenzidine, must be monitored closely to avoid nonspecific staining during the silver enhancement procedure. Both methods revealed a concentration of the enzyme in osteoblasts and in areas of osteoid that lined the bone trabeculae. The results support the findings of earlier enzyme cytochemical studies in which osteoblasts were shown to have significant alkaline phosphatase activity.     

A microfluorometric method for alkaline phosphatase: Application to the various segments of the nephron

A microtechnique has been developed for the measurement of alkaline phosphatase in minute amounts of renal tissue. This microtechnique utilizes the known fluorescent property of 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate following enzymatic hydrolysis. The reaction is sensitive and reproducible and is inhibited by l-bromotetramisole, a specific alkaline phosphatase inhibitor. The microdetermination of alkaline phosphatase activity in the various segments of the mouse nephron allowed the localization of the enzyme in the glomeruli, and in the proximal convoluted tubule where the activity progressively decreases from the capsule of Bowman to the more distal segments. The enzyme was absent from the pars recta or S3 and from the rest of the nephron. This technique is applicable to very small amounts (0.1 μg of protein) of any tissue containing alkaline phosphatase.     

A comparative study in young male animals of 10 species of the distribution of alkaline phosphatase activity in small arteries

Summary The distribution of alkaline phosphatase activity in the walls of small arteries measuring 100–200 in internal diameter in the collapsed state was investigated in nine organs in male animals of each of ten species employing the Gomori and azo-coupling techniques. Alkaline phosphatase activity was high in relation to the arterial endothelium of the chick, hen, turkey, rabbit, frog and man but was related to the arterial adventitia and not to the endothelium in the rat. In the guinea pig and hamster arterial alkaline phosphatase activity was uniformly low or absent. Within nine of these ten species the pattern of organ distribution of arterial alkaline phosphatase activity in vessels of comparable size was uniform. In the cat however, enzyme activity was confined to the adventitia of small cerebral arteries and to the media of the smallest arteries (arterioles) in all organs except the testis from which arterial activity was absent.The distribution of alkaline phosphatase activity in 100–200 , arteries in the species investigated was not directly related to the presence of capillary endothelial activity which was detected in all the organs examined. The activity in the walls of the smallest arteries (arterioles) was located in different sites in different species.United Arab Republic Research Fellow.     

Enzymatic histochemistry of mouse kidney in plastic

Two-micrometer sections of methacrylate-embedded kidney were used to investigate the enzymatic activities of mouse kidney where the proximal tubule and Bowman's capsule from the same corpuscle were viewed in the same section. Alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, 5'-nucleotidase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, leucine aminopeptidase, alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase, and adenosine triphosphatase activities were observed in the proximal tubule, but only 5'-nucleotidase, alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase, and alkaline phosphatase were observed in the squamous portion of the parietal epithelium of Bowman's capsule. The use of methacrylate-embedded tissue allowed more precise localization of enzymatic activity than is possible with most frozen sections. This may provide interesting applications not only for characterization of kidney diseases but also for characterization of other normal and abnormal tissues.     

Measurement of the viability of arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi using three different stains; relation to growth and metabolic activities of soybean plants

Histochemical staining of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activities in four arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus intraradices, G. fasciculatum, G. monosporum and G. mosseae) and their relation to growth and metabolic activities of soybean plants were investigated in a greenhouse experiment. In general, mycorrhizal inoculation significantly increased the growth responses, phosphorus and nitrogen contents, acid and alkaline phosphatases as well as total soluble protein of soybean compared to non-mycorrhizal plants. Stimulation was related to the viability of each mycorrhizal fungus. The localization of succinate dehydrogenase (as a vital stain of metabolically active fungus) and alkaline phosphatase activity (as a potential marker of efficiency of the symbiosis) in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were variable. The activity appeared in young arbuscles and intercellular hyphae, whereas the collapsed arbuscules were inactive. The histochemical staining results demonstrated that the activity of alkaline phosphatase fungi was lower than succinate dehydrogenase. The use of nitroblue tetrazolium chloride as a vital stain for SDH activity showed that all mycorrhizal infection revealed by trypan blue staining was not physiologically active. Thus, the possible utilization of these enzymes to assess the activity of mycorrhizal fungi and its relation with effectively for plant growth and mineral contents is discussed.     

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate: a possible physiological substrate for alkaline phosphatase in human neutrophils

The intracellular localization of pyridoxal phosphatase activity was demonstrated in human neutrophils by electron microscope cytochemistry. Under alkaline conditions, an enzyme active against pyridoxal phosphate was localized to a cytoplasmic granule population, the phosphasome. These granules have previously been shown by electron microscope cytochemical techniques and by subcellular fractionation to be rich in alkaline phosphatase. Under acidic conditions, a phosphatase activity against pyridoxal phosphate was localized to intracellular multilamellar bodies resembling secondary lysosomes. These were quite distinct from the primary, secondary and phosphasome granules and this unique localization corresponds to that previously demonstrated (tertiary granules) by subcellular fractionation studies of these cells. The similarity in the enzyme reaction requirements of alkaline pyridoxal phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase, and their localization to the same subcellular organelle, suggests that pyridoxal phosphate may be a physiological substrate for human neutrophil alkaline phosphatase.     

Expression and cellular distribution of NADPH-diaphorase and nitric oxide synthases in the porcine uterus during early pregnancy

Nitric oxide plays a key role in the regulation of various female reproductive processes such as ovulation, implantation and myometrial relaxation. The aim of the present study was to determine the histochemical activity and cellular localization of NADPH-d in the porcine uterus during early pregnancy, including the implantation period. Tissue samples collected from the pig uteri on days 5, 10, 12, 15 and 17 of pregnancy were stained histochemically for NADPH-d activity and immunohistochemically for NOS isoforms localization. In the luminal epithelium a significant increase of NADPH-d activity was observed on days 5-12 of pregnancy. On day 17 of pregnancy, two different staining patterns were observed: 1) a significant (p0.001) decrease in NADPH-d activity at the site of implantation and 2) the high NADPH-d activity at inter-implantation regions. The endometrial glands showed a significant (p0.001) increase in NADPH-d staining with high activity in individual glands. The arterial endothelium expressed stronger NADPH-d staining compared with venous vessels. Immunoreactivity of eNOS was similar to NADPH-d staining but no optical differences in the intensity of staining were observed. Clear iNOS immunoreactivity was detected in the luminal epithelium, endometrial stroma and individual endometrial glands. The vascular endothelium displayed weak iNOS staining.     

Hydrolase histochemistry of the thymus: development and species variations

In the present investigation the localization and activity of alkaline, neutral, and acid hydrolases of the thymus were studied during development of rats and mice and of various adult species using histochemical methods. If different procedures of tissue pretreatment were employed, several inhibition effects and morphological as well as enzyme histochemical artifacts occurred dependent on the mode of tissue pretreatment. After embedding in glycol methacrylate, sections of the thymus showed a better structural preservation than cryostat sections but were accompanied by a drastic decrease of activity and low localization quality of the final reaction products especially in the case of protease studies with 4-methoxy-2-naphthylamine peptides as substrates. Smears of thymic cells facilitated the allocation of enzymes to mobile or fixed cells in the stroma of the thymus. The perivascular localization of aminopeptidase M could only be shown with combined techniques. In comparison, primarily the proteases yielded information on the thymic stroma and in this context especially on the epithelial reticular cells and the stroma proper but also on thymocytes (lymphocytes) and enabled a species-dependent subdivision of the thymic reticulum already in the light microscope. Enzyme histochemically the development of the rat and mouse thymus could be subdivided into an early period and perinatal (pre- and postnatal) period of functional differentiation. Morphological (proliferation of cortical lymphocytes) and enzyme histochemical changes (disappearance of dipeptidylpeptidase IV, significant loss of alkaline phosphatase activity and beginning activity increase of aminopeptidase M) occurred primarily at the transition from the early to the prenatal period. During the postnatal phase, a significant activation of lysosomal enzymes in the thymic medulla and general enzymatic differentiation of the cortical epithelial reticular cells were found. Species differences and species similarities for the respective enzymes and their localization as well as for the thymic cells were noticed for adult rats, mice, guinea-pigs, hamsters, and marmoset monkeys. Differences were true especially for the thymocytes; less species differences were seen for the epithelial reticular cells; capsular and perivascular connective tissue and the macrophages behaved rather similarly. Species-independently certain medullary epithelial reticular cells showed high and typically localized alkaline phosphatase activities and species-dependently also high activities of neutral hydrolases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Culture of osteogenic cells from human alveolar bone: a useful source of alkaline phosphatase

The aim of this study was to obtain membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase from osteoblastic-like cells of human alveolar bone. Cells were obtained by enzymatic digestion and maintained in primary culture in osteogenic medium until subconfluence. First passage cells were cultured in the same medium and at 7, 14, and 21 days, total protein content, collagen content, and alkaline phosphatase activity were evaluated. Bone-like nodule formation was evaluated at 21 days. Cells in primary culture at day 14 were washed with Tris-HCl buffer, and used to extract the membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase. Cells expressed osteoblastic phenotype. The apparent optimum pH for PNPP hydrolysis by the enzyme was pH 10.0. This enzyme also hydrolyzes ATP, ADP, fructose-1-phosphate, fructose-6-phosphate, pyrophosphate and beta-glycerophosphate. PNPPase activity was reduced by typical inhibitors of alkaline phosphatase. SDS-PAGE of membrane fraction showed a single band with activity of approximately 120 kDa that could be solubilized by phospholipase C or Polidocanol.     

Antibodies against neuroactive amino acids and neuropeptides. II. Simultaneous immunoenzymatic double staining with labeled primary antibodies of the same species and a combination of the ABC method and the hapten-anti-hapten bridge (HAB) technique.

In the present study we developed an immunoenzymatic double staining technique allowing the simultaneous detection of two neuroactive substances with primary antibodies of the same species and their simultaneous visualization in semithin sections of epoxy-embedded material. For this purpose, primary antibodies against glutamate, GABA, and serotonin were either biotinylated or labeled with the trinitrophenyl (TNP) group. The latter was visualized by a detection system here referred to as the hapten-anti-hapten bridge (HAB) technique. The HAB technique consists of anti-TNP antibodies, serving as bridges between the TNP-ylated primary antibody, and a TNP-ylated marker enzyme, such as alkaline phosphatase. The single components of the HAB technique were optimized by use of a dot-blot assay and an "artificial tissue" system. The optimal staining sequence consisted of TNP-ylated primary antibody with a molar TNP:antibody ratio of 12:1, followed by anti-TNP antibody and TNP-ylated alkaline phosphatase (molar TNP:enzyme ratio of 20:1). No further improvement of detection sensitivity could be obtained when soluble immunocomplexes between anti-TNP antibody and TNP-ylated alkaline phosphatase on the side of phosphatase excess were prepared and used instead of simple TNP-ylated alkaline phosphatase. When compared with other established procedures, such as avidin-conjugated alkaline phosphatase or the ABC method, the HAB technique revealed a similar detection sensitivity. The TNP-ylated primary antibody, however, had to be used at higher concentration than the corresponding unlabeled primary antibody. The suitability of the HAB technique in combination with a modified three-step ABC technique for the simultaneous demonstration of glutamate-like and GABA-like immunoreactivity in the rat brain was demonstrated. The advantages of the new technique in comparison with existing double staining methods are discussed.     

A new fluorescence method for alkaline phosphatase histochemistry.

We have developed a new fluorescence method for the histochemical localization of alkaline phosphatase activity. Calcium phosphate deposited at the sites of alkaline phosphatase activity in a Gomori-type reaction are identified by calcium binding fluorochromes. The calcium binding fluorochromes calcein, calcein blue, and xylenol orange were investigated, with each fluorochrome being included in the alkaline phosphatase incubating medium and used in a single-step procedure. Alkaline phosphatase activity was studied in freeze-substituted, resin-embedded human liver and jejunal biopsies, and each fluorochrome produced intense fluorescence of different colors at sites of alkaline phosphatase activity. Calcein, calcein blue, and xylenol orange produced green, blue, and red fluorescence, respectively. Sites of enzyme activity were accurately localized without evidence of diffusion, and there was an absence of non-enzyme-catalyzed binding of any of the fluorochromes to tissue. This fluorescence method, which is particularly suited to investigating the localization and distribution of the activity of different enzymes in the same section, was used to investigate the distribution and co-localization of alkaline phosphatase and aminopeptidase M in human liver and jejunum.     

High activity of acid phosphatase of Pseudomonas pseudomallei as a possible attribute relating to its pathogenicity

Phosphatase activities were compared quantitatively among selected species of pseudomonads. P. pseudomallei showed the highest activity of a bell-shaped pH pattern with a peak at around pH 5.0. P. cepacia had a similar pattern of milder intensity. In contrast, P. aeruginosa revealed an alkaline phosphatase activity with a pH optimum higher than 8.0, but the level of activity was much lower than those of the above two species. The enzymatic reactions of other species were slight or negligible at their optimum pH in the same test system. These data were discussed in reference to their growth behavior in different pH environments and also in connection with such recent information that the high activity of microbial acid phosphatase may be a favorable attribute to their intracellular parasitism.     

An alkaline-phosphatase staining method in avidin-biotin immunohistochemistry

An avidin-biotin alkaline-phosphatase (ABAP) staining method has been developed for the labeling of tissue sections and cell smears. The introduction of alkaline phosphatase as a marker enzyme through an avidin bridge results in excellent immunocytochemical labeling of different antigens using poly- and monoclonal antibodies. This technique avoids problems with endogenous peroxidase activity that sometimes occur using peroxidase staining procedures. The introduction of a preformed avidin-biotin alkaline-phosphatase complex (ABAPC) makes the presented technique as simple to handle as the widely used avidin biotin-peroxidase complex method (ABC). The ABAPC technique could be combined with other enzymatic labelings for double immunoenzymatic staining.     

Cytochemical localization of alkaline phosphatase in intestinal metaplasia of the human stomach

Summary Alkaline phosphatase in the brush border of areas of intestinal metaplasia of human stomach was studied cytochemically. All absorptive cells in the upper part of the villi of the duodenum had strong alkaline phosphatase activity but, in areas of intestinal metaplasia, the metaplastic glands consisted of alkaline phosphatase-positive and negative absorptive cells. Alkaline phosphatase activity was found in tall dense microvilli of absorptive cells in areas of intestinal metaplasia and in the duodenum. However, in some areas of metaplastic epithelium, the activity was very weak in some tall dense microvilli of absorptive cells but strong in those of neighbouring absorptive cells. No alkaline phosphatase activity was found in short sparse microvilli of absorptive cells in areas of intestinal metaplasia. The difference in alkaline phosphatase activity in microvilli of different cells in areas of intestinal metaplasia, which is not seen in the duodenum, indicates abnormal morphological and enzymatic differentiation in intestinal metaplasia.     

Acid and alkaline phosphatase activities in the clam Scrobicularia plana: kinetic characteristics and effects of heavy metals

The acid and alkaline phosphatase activities of the clam Scrobicularia plana have been partially characterised in different organs and tissues (digestive gland, gills, foot, siphon and mantle) and the 'in vitro' effect of heavy metals on both types of enzymatic activity have been analysed. The optimal pH ranged between 4.0 and 5.5 for acid phosphatase activity and 8.5 and 9.5 for alkaline phosphatase activity. The apparent optimum temperature was in the 30-60 degrees range for acid phosphatase activity and in the 30-40 degrees C range for alkaline phosphatase activity. The effect of substrate concentration on enzymatic activities in the tissues showed a good fit to the Michaelis-Menten model. For both types of enzymatic activity, the highest values were found in the digestive gland. The effect of heavy metals was dependent on the tissue analysed. Mercury showed the highest inhibition in the organs/tissues and the parameters Km and Vmax were modified when the inhibitor concentration increased, thus indicating a mixed type of inhibition.     

A comparison of several fixative solutions for histochemical studies on human gastric mucosa

The effects of different fixative solutions on the staining of polyanions and Paneth cell granules and on alkaline phosphatase activity were evaluated in surgical specimens of human gastric mucosa with areas of intestinal metaplasia, which were dehydrated and embedded with routine procedures. Alcohol-formol proved to be particularly advisable for studies on the epithelial mucins, buffered formol with cetylpyridinium chloride for the connective tissue polyanions and the fluid of Mota et al. (1956) for the mast cells. In areas of complete intestinal metaplasia, the Paneth cell granules were destroyed by acidic fixative mixtures and 95% ethanol; in the same areas, alkaline phosphatase activity was well demonstrated after fixation with formol, alcohol-formol, or 95% ethanol.