PHOSPHATASE ENZYMES - CYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF PLEOMORPHIC ADENOMA AND NORMAL HUMAN SALIVARY-GLANDS

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 102  (2) , 90-94
Abstract
Human parotid glands, submandibular glands and pleomorphic adenomas were examined by EM histochemistry. All epithelial cells of the normal salivary glands showed plasma membrane ATPase and IDPase activity. Myoepithelial cells reacted most intensely. Pleomorphic adenomas showed epithelial cells within solid and ductal portions of the tumors that were variably reactive for ATPase and IDPase. Histochemical examination of the epithelial cells in the myxoid portions of the tumors did not provide conclusive evidence as to the nature of their progenitor cells. Surface-associated phosphatases (alkaline phosphatase, ATPase and IDPase) cannot be reliably used as histochemical markers of salivary gland myoepithelial cells. Morphological and phosphatase histochemical studies that intend to examine the role of myoepithelial cells in salivary gland neoplasms must be interpreted with care.

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