A new method to localize acid phosphatase using the confocal laser-scanning microscope

Abstract

The aim of the study was to work out a technique for the detection of acid phosphatase enzyme activity by confocal laser-scanning microscope using the histochemical acid phosphatase detection method (after Barka and Anderson 1962, modified by Bowen and Lewis 1985) routinely used for light microscopy. The density and the distribution of enzyme reaction product is dependent on the incubation time, as shown by different confocal images or ELISA reader. The inhibition of the enzyme activity with metal ions shows the same profile known from the literature. This staining method seems to be useful to demonstrate subcellular distribution of the enzyme in the lysosomes and in the Golgi apparatus.