HISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF ESTERASES

Abstract

The histochemical localization of esterases using α-naphthyl acetate and naphthol AS acetate as substrates is described for the five mammalian species: man, rabbit, rat, cat, and mouse. The localization overlaps in some places, but in others there are wide differences in the pattern of distribution, varying with the substrate and species employed in the study. This is interpreted as further evidence for the existence of an "esterase spectrum" consisting of a group of more or less specialized enzymes acting on certain specific esters of carboxylic acids, with a variable amount of overlap depending on the substrate and species used. Certain specific findings reported in the previous literature are now considered due to diffusion artifacts.