Histochemical Localization of Oxidative Enzyme Systems in the Human Anterior Pituitary

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Abstract
The anterior pituitaries of 30 persons were studied histochemically for the activities of DPNH and TPNH diaphorases, and of succinic, lactic, malic, β-hydroxybutyric, glutamic, isocitric and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenases. While the qualitative pattern of enzyme activity in the basophils, acidophils and chromophobes was similar, the intensity of the reaction varied with the enzymes and the cell types. The basophilic cells showed the strongest activity in all reacting systems. The acidophils generally had less activity than the basophils but considerably more activity than the chromophobe cells. These results and their significance are discussed.