title: Comparison of methods to identify microglial cells and macrophages in the human central nervous system.
abstract: The macrophage markers non-specific esterase, alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, and lysozyme were compared with conventional microglial and macrophage stains in the human central nervous system. In a series of specimens from cases of head trauma, conventionally fixed and embedded, the modified Weil-Davenport stain was unequivocally best for demonstrating reactive microglia. alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, however, was the most effective for showing macrophages in a series of specimens from patients with other conditions, which included inflammatory, neoplastic, and non-inflammatory diseases. The non-specific esterase reaction was unsatisfactory in tissues fixed in neutral formalin but was successful in fresh frozen tissue. In a series of specimens from cases of multiple sclerosis, non-specific esterase showed demyelination clearly and stained neuronal cytoplasm. It also stained macrophages but was less satisfactory for lipid-bearing phagocytes in multiple sclerosis than oil red 0.
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D043182:Carboxylesterase; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D002918:Chymotrypsin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D009113:Muramidase / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000473:pathology*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000166:cytology; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; D043182:Carboxylesterase; D009113:Muramidase; D002918:Chymotrypsin