title: Comparative distribution of four lysosomal enzymes within various structures of the human placenta.
abstract: The histochemical activity of 4 lysosomal enzymes, acid phosphatase (AP), nonspecific esterase (NE), aryl sulphatase (AS), and beta-glucuronidase (BG), was compared in following structures of the human placenta: syncytiotrophoblast, villous stromal cells, fetal capillaries and larger blood vessels, cells of basal plate, macrophages, and Hofbauer cells. In spite of a general similarity in distribution of the investigated enzymes, differences concerning particular structures were found. Thus positively stained granules in endothelia of capillary vessels were revealed only in the reaction for BG, although contours of capillaries were also outlined by the diffuse reaction product for AS. The muscular layer of larger vessels reacted strongly for AS and weakly for NE with the remaining reactions being negative. In syncytiotrophoblast, BG appeared much less active than the other 3 enzymes. The possible significance of the BG positive granules in endothelial of capillaries and of the occasional divergence in distribution of the classical lysosomal markers (AP and BG) is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Copernicus Medical Academy, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mirecka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanarz
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis*; D000328:Adult; D001192:Arylsulfatases / Q000032:analysis*; D043182:Carboxylesterase; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis*; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000032:analysis*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000201:enzymology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013429:Sulfatases / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; D043182:Carboxylesterase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D013429:Sulfatases; D001192:Arylsulfatases; D005966:Glucuronidase