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Gallbladder epithelial acid hydrolases in human cholecystitis
Author(s) -
Kouroumalis E.,
Hopwood D.,
Ross P. E.,
Milne G.,
Bouchier I. A. D.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711390209
Subject(s) - acid phosphatase , mucus , glucuronidase , biochemistry , alkaline phosphatase , lamina propria , secretion , enzyme , gallbladder , immunohistochemistry , chemistry , biology , medicine , pathology , epithelium , ecology
The lysosomal enzymes β‐glucuronidase and acid phosphatase were studied in 112 patients with cholecystitis. Acid phosphatase activity was generally lower in patients with cholesterol stones compared with cases with pigment stones. β‐glucuronidase activity was higher in acalculous cholecystitis than in any other group, a fact compatible with the concept that in lithiasis the enzyme is secreted into the bile and therefore may participate in nidus formation. Histochemistry at light microscopical level clearly demonstrates the lysosomal distribution of these enzymes and their presence in the macrophages infiltrating lamina propria in cholesterolosis. Electron histochemistry in 45 patients showed acid phosphatase activity in lysosomes and some in mucous droplets. Thiamine pyrophosphatase activity, a marker for the Golgi system, showed a close association with these mucous droplets. The secretion of mucus will be accompanied by a secretion of acid phosphatase, and by implication other acid hydrolases, into the bile.