ABSTRACT
Peroxisomes (microbodies) were studied with CATase, G-6-Pase, TPPase, CMPase cytochemistry and stereology by electron microscopy in 15 cases of normal human liver specimens. In human hepatocytes peroxisomes are ellipsoid or round intracellular bodies. They contain homogeneous fine granular matrix, and surrounded by unit membrane, and distribute randomly in the cytoplasm. By stereological analysis, the peroxisomes accounted for 1.33?0.38% of the cytoplasmic volume, their numerical density in spase was 9.76?1.63/100 ?m~3 cytoplasm, and the ratio of mitochondria to peroxisomes in quantity was 6.22?1.17. The result of G-6-Pase cytochemistry showed no luminal connection between endoplasmic reticulum and peroxisomes. The membrane similar to smooth endoplasmic reticulum seem to be connected with peroxisomes which was G-6-Pase negative, hence such membrane may be peroxisomal membrane system rather than smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The TPPase cytochemistry showed that peroxisomes did not connect with the Golgi complex structurally, and the Golgi complex may not be involved in the biogenesis of peroxisomes. Some figures resembled fission and budding of peroxisomes were viewed, and this finding suggested that new peroxisomes formed probably by division of preexisting peroxisomes.