Facilitated light microscopic cytochemical diagnosis of acute myelogenous leukemia.

Hydroperoxidase-positive Phi bodies and rods are much more prominent and prevalent than rods visualized with a Romanovsky-type stain (Auer rods) in immature leukocytes of patients with active acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). They are readily observed with the light microscope in peripheral blood or marrow films of AML patients stained to show their peroxidatic activity. In many of these patients, Auer rods, which apparently constitute only a small subpopulation of the hydroperoxidase-positive Phi bodies and rods, were detected with difficulty, if at all. The hydroperoxidase-positive Phi bodies and rods were observed in 92% of 36 patients with active disease. They were never observed in leukocytes of patients with other hematopoietic disorders or of normal individuals. Thus, they facilitated the distinction of AML from acute lymphocytic leukemia and chronic granulocytic leukemia in blast crisis. They were absent in full clinical remission after chemotherapy and were greatly diminished in partial remission. They were present in disease relapse and reappeared in five patients who had been in full remission. These results suggest that these hydroperoxidase-positive enlarged particles are pathognomonic of AML and that monitoring them with the light microscope may aid in guiding its clinical management.

The demonstration of arylsulfatases with 4-nitro-1,2-benzenediol mono(hydrogen sulfate) by the formation of osmium blacks at the sites of copper capture.

A new method is described for the direct cytochemical demonstration of lysosomal arylsulfatases utilizing a synthetic substrate, 4-nitro-1,2-benzenediol mono(hydrogen sulfate), and a copper capture reaction. A small amount of Hatchett's brown (cupric ferrocyanide, Cu2Fe(CN)6-7 H2O) formed at the subcellular sites of copper capture is then utilized as a heterogeneous catalyst to effect the oxidative polymerization of 3,3'-diaminobenzidine which results in the formation of an insoluble, highly colored osmiophilic indamine polymer at the sites of enzymatic activity. The reaction product even at this stage prior to osmication is highly visible. It is readily seen with a light microscope in 50 mum sections of fixed tissues prepared with a mechanical chopper or in 10 micron cryostat sections treated for arylsulfatase activity. Upon osmication, an electron-opaque osmium black is formed which is much less soluble than the products of either the lead or barium capture reactions currently used for the demonstration of arylsulfatase with the electron microscope. The selection of areas of plastic-embedded tissues for ultrathin sectioning is facilitated by the ready visibility of these osmium black end products on 1-2 mum plastic sections which can be studied with the light microscope. This method gives permanent specimens demonstrating arylsulfatases A or B in lysosomes and autophagic vacuoles. In addition, enzyme activity is seen occasionally in the Golgi region or lamellae of certain cells believed to be elaborating sulfated products. In these instances, it may be demonstrating sulfotransferase activity.

Peripheral neuropathy in mouse hereditary diabetes mellitus. I. Comparison of neurologic, histologic, and morphometric parameters with dystonic mice.

C57BL/KsJ db/db inbred mice have an hereditary autosomal recessive disease resembling in some respects maturity onset human diabetes mellitus. At 8--11 months of age, they displayed intermittent symptoms suggestive of a mild sensory neuropathy. These symptoms consisted of adduction of their hind limbs and flexing hind paws when raised by the tail, and inability to maintain their position on the roto wheel. Peripheral nerves and sensory ganglia of the diabetic mice were compared with those of the unafflicted littermates and studied with respect to Schwann cell counts and myelinated nerve fiber diameter measurements. In addition, teased fibers of peripheral nerves were compared for obvious changes in internodal distance and demyelination. Chromatolytic neurons were moe abundant in lumbosacral spinal ganglia of diabetic mice than in corresponding ganglia of controls or in more anterior spinal ganglia and trigeminal ganglia of diabetics. Histologic studies showed an increase in Schwann cell counts in longitudinal sections of peripheral nerves. A similar but larger increase was observed in peripheral nerves of mice affected with an hereditary sensory neuropathy, dystonia musculorum. A small but general decrease in myelinated fiber diameter was observed in sensory and motor nerves.

Peroxidases induced in rat uterus by estrogen administration. II. Cytochemical and biochemical heterogeneity.

In estrogen and diethylstilbestrol-treated rats, uterine peroxidases originate from two sources, the infiltrating eosinophils (exogenous) and the uterine tissue itself (endogenous). The study reported here distinguished the exogenous peroxidases by biochemical means and by cytochemistry. Eosinophil peroxidases are confined to the stromal and myometrial regions and appear simultaneously with endogenous peroxidases. At 48 h after estrogen-administration, the clear uterine luminal washings contain five peroxidase isoforms; this increases to 7-15 isozymes by 72 h. Uterine fluid peroxidase isozymes are acidic proteins with pI values ranging from pH 4.0 - 7.2, while the principal eosinophil peroxidase is a basic protein with a pI value ranging from pH 8.0-8.9. Eosinophil peroxidase is electrophoretically demonstrable only in the presence of the cationic detergent cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and has a spectrophotometric optimum of pH 4.4. In contrast, uterine fluid peroxidases have a pH optimum of 7.2. and no requirement for CTAB. Uterine tissue peroxidase extracted in the presence of Ca2+, showed a minor electrophoretic peroxidase band in the acidic pH range; however, a CTAB-activated peroxidase similar to the principal eosinophil peroxidase appeared as a basic protein. The data strongly suggest that uterine fluid peroxidases are estrogen-induced peroxidases (EIP) distinct from the eosinophil peroxidases that are largely restricted to the stromal compartment. This conclusion is supported by cytochemical studies that show two eosinophilperoxidases. The one shown by DAB was resistant to cyanide whereas the one shown by PPD/PC was inhibited by cyanide. A uterine tissue peroxidase, which was demonstrated only in stromal cells by the DAB medium, was more sensitive to cyanide than the eosinophil peroxidase shown by DAB.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cytochemical correlates of structural sexual dimorphism in glandular tissues of the mouse.

Circulating androgens are known to effect a sexual dimorphism of the submandibular gland and kidney of the mouse. Enzyme histocytochemical differences that correlate with these structural changes have been the subject of much study, especially in the kidney. In the present study, emphasis was placed on the hypogonadic effects of diabetes mellitus on the submandibular gland and kidney of C57Bl/KsJ db/db inbred mice with an autosomal recessive disease resembling maturity onset human diabetes mellitus. These glands of adult diabetic mice of both sexes were compared with those of unafflicted heterozygous littermates. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase and peroxisomal and cytoplasmic catalase were studied in their submandibular glands and kidneys. The parasympathetic innervation of the submandibular glands was studied by a histochemical method for acetylcholinesterase. The extensive differentiation of striated ducts of the submandibular gland into granular tubules in the postpubertal male mouse was readily evident with the cytochrome oxidase procedure. This differentiation resulted in ductal staining patterns characteristic of the sexes. Alteration of these patterns suggested that demasculinization or feminization was occuring in the male diabetic mice and that masculinization or virilization (defeminization) was occurring in the female diabetics. Similarly, in kidney, study of the parietal epithelium of Bowman's capsule revealed feminization in the male diabetics and masculinization in the female diabetics. With the catalase procedure, a dramatic sexual dimorphism was observed in the kidneys of the heterozygous unafflicted mice. Peroxisomal staining of epithelial cells of the proximal convoluted tubules was much more intense in the outer medulla of the male than of the female. In kidneys of the diabetics, the staining patterns again suggested that feminization of the male and masculinization of the female kidneys had occurred. On the other hand, neither a sexual dichotomy nor effects due to diabetes could be observed in the characteristic catalase staining observed in the luminal epithelial cells of submandibular gland distal ducts. The parasympathetic innervation of the submandibular gland, as revealed by the acetylcholinesterase method, was also markedly sexually dimorphic in the unafflicted mice. This was due to the more extensive innervation of the larger granular ducts characteristic of male than of the smaller striated ducts of the female. As a result of diabetes, the innervation and duct size decreased in the submandibular gland of the male, suggesting feminization, whereas they increased in the female suggesting masculinization. These changes were consistent with those observed in sumandibular gland with the cytochrome oxidase procedure. Attempts were made to interrelate all of the enzyme histochemical changes observed in submandibular gland and kidney with the weights of these glands, sex, gonadal weights, diabetic status and urinary protein excretion...