Quantification of enzyme activities in brain sections by microphotometry

1. Catalytic enzyme histochemistry offers the possibility to demonstrate enzyme activities quantitatively (microphotometry) in brain sections of those sites where they are localized. 2. A prerequisite for quantification are appropriate histochemical procedures for the demonstration of enzymes, which are shortly discussed. 3. For the microphotometric determination of enzymes in brain sections the scanning microphotometry is at present the technique of choice. 4. This is described in the example of an image plane scanning system. 5. Using this technique two measuring procedures can be applied for the quantification of enzyme activities, i.e. kinetic and end-point measurements. 6. Methods for the microphotometric determination of certain important oxido-reductases and further enzymes are presented. 7. It is concluded that quantitative catalytic enzyme histochemistry could be a source of results complementary to those provided by conventional biochemistry.