Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Enzyme Histochemistry: Applications and Pitfalls

  • Chapter
Handbook of Neurochemistry

Abstract

The purpose of this brief review is to interpret technique rather than discuss particular biological or pathological problems. As two recent books have been concerned with the results of enzyme histochemistry in neurobiology and neuropathology,(1,2) it seems pointless and premature again to summarize the considerable body of evidence that has accumulated in these applied fields. It is now more appropriate briefly to consider what is the value of histoenzymic methods and how reliable are the commonly used histochemical enzyme techniques in research studies on the nervous system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. C. W. M. Adams, in Neurohistochemistry (C. W. M. Adams, ed.), pp. 253, 332, 403, 437, and 488, Elsevier, Amsterdam (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  2. R. L. Friede, Topographic Brain Chemistry, Academic Press, New York (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  3. G. G. Glenner, in Neurohistochemistry (C. W. M. Adams, ed.), pp. 109–160, Elsevier, Amsterdam (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  4. K. Linderstrem-Lang, Distribution of enzymes in tissue and cells, Harvey Lectures Ser. 34: 214–245 (1939).

    Google Scholar 

  5. D. G. Scarpelli and N. M. Kanczak, Ultrastructural cytochemistry: principles, limitations and applications, Intern. Rev. Exptl. Pathol. 4: 55–126 (1965).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. I. A. Brody and W. K. Engel, Effects of phenazine methosulfate in histochemistry, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 12: 928–929 (1964).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. J. S. Mathiesen and S. I. Mellgren, Some observations concerning the role of phenazine methosulfate in histochemical dehydrogenase methods, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 13: 408–409 (1965).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. E. Farber, Control studies on the histochemical localization of specific DPN-linked dehydrogenases, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 10: 657–658 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  9. A. B. Novikoff, in Histochemistry and Cytochemistry (R. Wegmann, ed.), pp. 465–481, Pergamon Press, Oxford (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  10. J. W. Hitzeman, Observations on the subcellular localization of oxidative enzymes with Nitroblue tetrazolium, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 11: 62–70 (1963).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Z. Lojda, Remarks on histochemical demonstration of dehydrogenases. II. Intracellular localization, Folia Morphol. (Warszawa) 13: 84–96 (1965).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. M. S. Burstone, Histochemical demonstration of acid phosphatases with naphthol AS phosphates, J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 21: 523–539 (1958).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. A. B. Novikoff, The intracellular localization of lactic dehydrogenase studied by biochemical and staining methods, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 6: 397 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  14. D. D. Sabatini, K. Bensch, and R. J. Barrnett, Cytochemistry and electronmicroscopy. The preservation of cellular ultrastructure and enzymatic activity by aldehyde fixation, J. Cell Biol. 17: 19–58 (1963).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. J. C. McAlpine, Histochemical survival of diaphorase activity in formalin-fixed tissues stored for 18 months in cold gum-sucrose, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 13: 296 (1965).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. G. R. N. Jones, Quantitative histochemical studies on the succinate-neotetrazolium reductase system, Exptl. Cell Res. 43: 268–280 (1966).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. C. D. Saudek, C. W. M. Adams, and O. B. Bayliss, The quantitative histochemistry and cytochemistry of lactic dehydrogenase and NADH2-tetrazolium reductase in human aortic wall, J. Pathol. Bacteriol. 92: 265–279 (1966).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. P. B. Gahan and M. Kalina, The validity of using neotetrazolium for studying labile, NADP-linked dehydrogenases in histological sections; a quantitative study, Biochem. J. 96: 11P - 12P (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  19. E. Thomas and A. G. E. Pearse, The fine localization of dehydrogenases in the nervous system, Z. Zellforsch. Abt. Histochem. 2: 266–282 (1961).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. R. L. Friede, L. M. Fleming, and M. Knoller, A comparative mapping of enzymes involved in hexosemonophosphate shunt and citric acid cycle in brain, J. Neurochem. 10: 263–277 (1963).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. M. J. Blunt, C. P. Wendell-Smith, P. B. Paisley, and F. Baldwin, Oxidative enzymes in macroglia and axons of cat optic nerve, J. Anat. (London) 101: 13–26 (1967).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. V. Janata, J. Fischer, L. Jilek, and V. Malik, The diffusion of lactate, succinate and glutamate dehydrogenase from cryostat sections of the brain of rats into the incubating medium during ontogeny, Acta Histochem. 26: 28–35 (1967).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. a. C. W. M. Adams and O. B. Bayliss, unpublished observations.

    Google Scholar 

  24. H. Zimmermann and A. G. E. Pearse, Limitations in the histochemical demonstration of pyridine nucleotide-linked dehydrogenases (“nothing dehydrogenase”), J. Histochem. Cytochem. 7: 271–275 (1959).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. G. Gomori, Microscopic Histochemistry, Chicago University Press, Chicago (1952).

    Google Scholar 

  26. M. Wachstein and E. Meisel, Histochemistry of hepatic phosphatases at a physiologic pH, Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 27: 13–23 (1957).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. G. B. Koelle and J. S. Friedenwald, A histochemical method for localizing cholinesterase activity, Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. (N.Y.) 70: 617–622 (1949).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. H. W. Deane, Nuclear location of phosphatase activity: fact or artifact?, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 11: 443–444 (1963).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. A. B. Novikoff, The validity of histochemical phosphatase methods on the intracellular level, Science 113: 320–325 (1951).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. P. J. Anderson, S. K. Song, and N. Christoff, in Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress of Neuropathology (H. Jacob, ed.), Vol. 1, pp. 75–79, Thieme, Stuttgart (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  31. K. D. Barron, J. Bernsohn, and A. R. Hess, Zymograms of neural acid phosphatases. Implications for slide histochemistry, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 12: 42–44 (1964).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. D. G. Freiman and N. Kaplan, Studies on the histochemical differentiation of enzymes hydrolyzing adenosine triphosphate, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 8: 159–170 (1960).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. H. Barden and S. S. Lazarus, Histochemical characteristics of adenosine triphosphate dephosphorylating enzymes in rabbit pancreas, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 11: 578–589 (1963).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. A. B. Novikoff, J. Drucker, W.-Y. Shin, and S. Goldfischer, Further studies of the apparent ATPase activity of cell membranes in formol-calcium-fixed tissues, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 9: 434–451 (1961).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. M. Wachstein, M. Bradshaw, and J. M. Ortiz, Histochemical demonstration of mitochondrial ATPase activity in tissue sections, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 10: 65–74 (1962).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. H. L. Moses and A. S. Rosenthal, On the significance of lead catalysed hydrolysis of nucleoside phosphates in histochemical systems, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 15: 354–355 (1967).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. A. B. Novikoff, Enzyme localizations with Wachstein-Meisel procedures: real or artefact, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 15: 353–354 (1967).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. I. T. McClurkin, A method for the cytochemical demonstration of sodium-activated adenosine triphosphatase, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 12: 654–658 (1964).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. R. M. Torack, in Neurohistochemistry (C. W. M. Adams, ed.), pp. 161–188, Elsevier, Amsterdam (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  40. J. McD. Tormey, Significance of the demonstration of ATPase noted for active transport, Nature (London) 210: 820–822 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. T. G. Scott, The specificity of 5’-nucleotidase in the brain of the mouse, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 13: 657–667 (1965).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. M. J. Karnovsky and L. Roots, A “direct-coloring” thiocholine method for cholinesterases, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 12: 219–221 (1964).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. C. W. M. Adams, R. T. Grant, and O. B. Bayliss, Cholinesterases in peripheral nervous system. I. Mixed, motor and sensory trunks, Brain Res. 5: 366–376 (1967).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. C. Bell, Use of the direct coloring thiocholine technique for demonstration of intracellular neuronal cholinesterases, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 14: 567–570 (1966).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. R. T. Grant, O. B. Bayliss, and C. W. M. Adams, Cholinesterases in peripheral nervous system. II. Motor, sensory and sympathetic nerves in rabbit ear perichondrium and rat cremaster muscle, Brain Res. 6: 457–474 (1967).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. T. Barka and P. J. Anderson, Histochemical methods for acid phosphatase using hexazonium pararosaniline as coupler, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 10: 741–753 (1962).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. G. G. Glenner, L. A. Cohen, and J. E. Folk, The enzymatic hydrolysis of aminoacid-ßnaphthylamides. I. Preparation of aminoacid and dipeptide ß-naphthylamides, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 13: 57–64 (1965).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. W. H. Fishman and S. S. Goldman, A post-coupling technique for ß-glucuronidase employing the substrate, naphthol AS-BI-ß-D-glucosiduronic acid, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 13: 441–447 (1965).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. C. W. M. Adams and G. G. Glenner, Histochemistry of myelin. IV. Aminopeptidase activity in CNS and PNS, J. Neurochem. 9: 233–239 (1962).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. M. M. Nachlas, M. M. Friedman, and A. M. Seligman, New observations on discrepancies in the histochemical localization of leucine aminopeptidase, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 10: 315–323 (1962).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. B. Monis, K.-C. Tsou, and A. M. Seligman, Development of a histochemical method for a-D-galactosidase and its distribution in the rat, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 11: 653–661 (1963).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. F. Wolfgram, A note on the use of the azo dye methods in the enzyme histochemistry of nervous tissue, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 9: 171–175 (1961).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. R. Daoust, Histochemical localization of enzyme activities by substrate film methods: Ribonucleases, deoxyribonucleases, proteases, amylase, and hyaluronidase, Internat. Rev. Cytol. 18: 191–221 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. R. Daoust, Modified procedure for the histochemical localization of ribonuclease activity by the substrate film method, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 14: 254–259 (1966).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. C. W. M. Adams and N. A. Tuqan, The histochemical demonstration of protease by a gelatin-film substrate, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 9: 469–472 (1961).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. L. Cunningham, Histochemical observations of the enzymatic hydrolysis of gelatin films, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 15: 292–298 (1967).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. A. S. Todd, Histological localization of fibrinolysin activator, J. Pathol. Bacteriol. 78: 281–283 (1959).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. C. W. M. Adams and N. A. Tuqan, Histochemistry of myelin. II. Proteins, lipid-protein dissociation and proteinase activity in Wallerian degeneration, J. Neurochem. 6: 334–341 (1961).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. G. Benetato, E. Gabrielescu, and I. Boros, The histochemistry of cerebral proteases in experimental allergic encephalitis, Rev. Roumaine Physiol. 2: 379–384 (1965).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. G. Benetato, E. Gabrielescu, L. Stoenescu, and A. Bordeianu, The histochemistry of proteases in the nervous system in the course of the stimulation process, Rev. Roumaine Physiol. 2: 13–22 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  61. C. W. M. Adams, in Symposium on Nucleic Acids and Proteins and the Functions of the Nervous System ( Z. Lodin and S. P. R. Rose, eds.), pp. 111–120, Excerpta Medica Foundation, Amsterdam (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  62. M. S. Burstone, Modifications of histochemical techniques for the demonstration of cytochrome oxidase, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 9: 59–65 (1961).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. S. J. Holt and R. J. F. Withers, Studies in enzyme histochemistry. V. An appraisal of indigogenic reactions for esterase localization, Proc. Roy. Soc. Ser. B 148: 520–532 (1958).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. C. W. M. Adams, Vascular Histochemistry, p. 18, Lloyd-Luke, London (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  65. D. T. Janigan and A. G. E. Pearse, The mechanism of tissue staining by ferric hydroxyquinoline methods for ß-glucuronidase, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 10: 719–730 (1962).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. W. H. Fishman, S. S. Goldman, and S. Green, Several biochemical criteria for evaluating ß-glucuronidase localization, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 12: 239–251 (1964).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. T. Takeuchi, Histochemical differentiation of branching enzyme (amylo-1,4–1,6transglucosidase) in animal tissues, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 6: 208–216 (1958).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. T. Takeuchi and G. G. Glenner, Histochemical demonstration of uridine diphosphate glucose-glycogen transferas6 in animal tissues, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 9: 304–316 (1961).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guy’s Hospital Medical School, London University, UK

    C. W. M. Adams (Sir William Dunn Professor of Pathology)

  2. Honorary Consultant Morbid Anatomist, Guy’s Hospital, London, Great Britain

    C. W. M. Adams (Sir William Dunn Professor of Pathology)

Authors
  1. C. W. M. Adams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. New York State Research Institute for Neurochemistry and Drug Addiction, Ward’s Island, New York, New York, USA

    Abel Lajtha

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1969 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Adams, C.W.M. (1969). Enzyme Histochemistry: Applications and Pitfalls. In: Lajtha, A. (eds) Handbook of Neurochemistry. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7321-4_22

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7321-4_22

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-7301-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-7321-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation