Ultrastructural localization of alkaline and acid phosphatases in the human fallopian tube epithelium during the menstrual cycle.
Ultrastructural and cytochemical methods were utilized to study the human Fallopian tube fimbrial epithelium during the different stages of the menstrual cycle. Alkaline phosphatase reaction product was located along the apical and lateral plasma membranes of the secretory cells only, regardless of the stage of the cycle. The ciliated cells were almost devoid of any reaction product at all stages of the cycle. Acid phosphatase reaction product depicted the lysosomes. These appeared as electron-dense bodies, of almost equal numbers in the ciliated and the secretory cells at all stages of the cycle. Thus the number of lysosomes did not vary appreciable during the different stages of the menstrual cycle. Many lipid droplets were found in both cells; these were rimmed by acid phosphatase reaction product, and some were partially enveloped by electron-dense bodies containing acid phosphatase deposits. Acid phosphatase deposits were also found on the inner face of Golgi vesicles.
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000201:enzymology; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008598:Menstruation; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase