High-resolution cytochemistry of neuraminic and hexuronic acid-containing macromolecules applying the enzyme-gold approach.

We localized acidic glycoconjugates at the ultrastructural level by applying the enzyme-gold approach. Neuraminidase and hyaluronidase were adsorbed to colloidal gold particles and applied to tissue sections under optimal conditions for their enzymatic activity. Neuraminidase-gold labeling was distributed over the Golgi apparatus and associated secretory granules in exocrine pancreatic cells and duodenal goblet cells. Mitochondria were labeled over inner membranes. Labeling was also found over the dispersed chromatin in the nucleus. Plasma membranes, particularly the apical side, were labeled by gold particles. On the other hand, incubation of tissue sections with the hyaluronidase-gold complex resulted in intense labeling of the rER membranes, the plasma membrane, and the dense chromatin in the nucleus. Labeling was also found over the Golgi apparatus and associated secretory granules, but only in duodenal goblet cells. Specificity of the results was confirmed by various control experiments performed, indicating that the enzyme-gold technique is useful for detecting linked-sugar residues on tissue thin sections. Labelings found over intra- and extracellular compartments in the present work are discussed in light of previous biochemical indications as well as of other histochemical detections of these glycoconjugates.