title: Stabilization of configurational states and enzyme activities in subcellular fractions after fixation with extremely low concentrations of glutaraldehyde.
abstract: The activities of various enzymes in some subcellular organelle fractions were examined after fixation in glutaraldehyde of various concentrations. A high speed centrifuge was used to shorten the fixation time. At the lowest concentration (0.01%) glutaraldehyde stabilized instable configurational states of mitochondria as revealed by electron microscopy. In addition, at this concentration, at least 70% of the original monoamine oxidase, ATPase and cytochrome oxidase activities were preserved. The activity of acid phosphatase, on the other hand, was enhanced in a lysosomal fraction when fixed with the aldehyde at higher concentrations, e.g. 0.1% and 1.0%. It is possible that the aldehyde at higher concentrations has the same effects on the lysosomal membrane as freeze-thawing. Glucose-6-phosphatase activity was well-preserved in a microsomal fraction fixed with 0.01% glutaraldehyde but was decreased drastically when the concentration of the aldehyde was greater than 0.05%.
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004140:Dinitrophenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008931:Mitochondria, Muscle / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009206:Myocardium; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D004140:Dinitrophenols; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D008274:Magnesium