HISTOCHEMISTRY AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF MITOCHONDRIAL ADENOSINETRIPHOSPHATASE

Abstract
A study of the requirements for histochemical demonstration of mitochondrial adenosinetriphosphatase demonstrated that fixation of cryostat sections for 15 minutes in cold 0.05 M manganese chloride in 3% formol saturated with CaCO3 (pH 6.9) gave best results. By this means the enzyme could be demonstrated with both the calcium and lead incubation media. The adenosinetriphosphatase activity was demonstrated ultramicroscopically and was found to be compartmentalized in the intereristal matrix. The histochemically demonstrated enzyme showed responses to inhibitors and activators characteristic of adenosinetriphosphatase of damaged mitochondria obtained by ultracentrifugation.