THE HISTOCHEMICAL DEMONSTRATION OF PROTEASE ACTIVITY IN RAT AND GUINEA PIG ADIPOSE TISSUES

Abstract

Protease activity is demonstrable histochemically in adipose tissues of the rat and guinea pig, using the gelatin-silver substrate film technique with incubation of fresh frozen cryostat sections at 37°C for 3 hr in a humid atmosphere at pH 5.2 and 7.7. Serial sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin are used for localization. Control sections are treated with absolute alcohol, 4% formalin, 1% sodium iodoacetate and heat as inhibitors. It is uncertain whether this protease activity is related to the pituitary adipokinetic peptide inactivators which have been demonstrated biochemically in rat, mouse and hamster adipose tissues.