Cytochemical localization of acid phosphatase and trimetaphosphatase activities in exocrine acinar cells

Abstract

Acid phosphatase activity, a lysosomal marker, is commonly demonstrated using the Gomori technique with cytidine 5'-monophosphate or beta-glycerophosphate as substrate. Using this lead capture method on mouse and rat exorbital lacrimal, parotid, and pancreatic acinar cells, reaction product was localized in GERL, forming secretory granules, and secondary lysosomes. However, a different cytochemical localization was observed for inorganic trimetaphosphatase, another lysosomal enzyme. When the technique for trimetaphosphatase activity, a metal chelation method, was applied to exocrine acinar cells, reaction produce was conspicuously absent from GERL and forming secretory granules, but was present in secondary lysosomes, occasionally in Golgi saccules, and in previously unreported basal elongated lysosomes. The differences in the localization of the two enzymatic activities emphasizes the importance of employing more than one substrate where possible, and raises questions concerning the mechanism of delivery of acid hydrolases to secondary lysosomes.