title: Immunohistochemical localization of peroxisomal enzymes during rat embryonic development.
abstract: Peroxisomes are cytoplasmic organelles involved in a variety of metabolic pathways. Thus far, the morphological and biochemical features of peroxisomes have been extensively characterized in adult tissues. However, the existence of congenital peroxisomal disorders, primarily affecting tissue differentiation, emphasizes the importance of these organelles in the early stages of organogenesis. We investigated the occurrence and tissue distribution of three peroxisomal enzymes in rat embryos at various developmental stages. By means of a highly sensitive biotinyl-tyramide protocol, catalase, acyl-CoA oxidase, and ketoacyl-CoA thiolase were detected in embryonic tissues where peroxisomes had not thus far been recognized, i.e., adrenal and pancreatic parenchyma, choroid plexus, neuroblasts of cranial and spinal ganglia and myenteric plexus, and chondroblasts of certain skeletal structures. In other tissues, i.e., gut epithelium and neuroblasts of some CNS areas, they were identified earlier than previously. In select CNS areas, ultrastructural catalase cytochemistry allowed identification of actively proliferating organelles at early developmental stages in several cell types. Our data show that in most organs maturation of peroxisomes parallels the acquirement of specific functions, mainly related to lipid metabolism, thus supporting an involvement of the organelles in tissue differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology, University La Sapienza, Italy. roberta.nardacci@libero.it
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nardacci
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Falciatori
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stefanini
mesh_terms: D000102:Acetyl-CoA C-Acyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D042962:Acyl-CoA Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009928:Organ Specificity; D020675:Peroxisomes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D002374:Catalase; D042962:Acyl-CoA Oxidase; D000102:Acetyl-CoA C-Acyltransferase