ULTRASTRUCTURAL LOCALIZATION OF ACID PHOSPHATASE IN MOUSE THYMIC CORTEX / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

The ultrastructural localization of acid phosphatase in the cells of mouse thymic cortex was described by using Robinson and Karnovsky method with cerium chloride as capture agent. The results indicated that the enzyme activity was localized mainly on the plasma membrane of epithelial reticular cells and thymocytes, especially where both of them were in contact with each other. Acid phosphatase activity was also found in the invaginations of plasma membrane, the vesicles near the plasma membrane, the saccules of the Golgi zone, the lysosomes, and a part of the vacuoles of epitheleial reticular cells. The lysosomes and the dense granules of cytoplasm, as well as on the some area of plasma membrane of the macrophages showed the enzyme activity. The enzyme activity was demonstrated in the cytoplasm and on the plasma membrane of degenerated thymocytes. The role of acid phosphatase in thymic cortex cells was discussed.