[Cytochemical labeling of proteolytic enzymes in Entamoeba histolytica]

Abstract

Trophozoites were obtained from fecal mucous in patients bearing colonic amebiasis. The tripsin inhibitor of soya bean was coupled to peroxidase according to Nakane and Kawokoi method. Amebae were incubated with couple and reactions were developed following Karnowsky's technic. There was a specific labeling of proteolitic enzymes on plasma membrane, the wall of digestive vacuoles and intracytoplasmic vacuoles of the trophozoites. Such a distribution of proteolitic enzymes agreed with digestive and invasion functions of E. histolytica.