A histochemical study on hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes in human sarcomas

Histochemical evaluations of human sarcomas such as reticulum cell sarcoma, fibrosarcoma, lymphosarcoma and neurofibrosarcoma, were carried out with five hydrolytic enzymes and eight oxidative enzymes. The activities of acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase were slightly positive in the neoplastic cells observed. Beta-esterase activity was also positive but varied according to the kind of sarcomas. Alkaline phosphatase activity was faint or negative in sarcoma cells, though positive in capillary walls. Leucine aminopeptidase activity was negative giving not any appreciable coloration of the cell as far as the method employed is concerned. Among the activities of dehydrogenases, the most intense activity was observed in lactic dehydrogenase. The activities of succinic and beta-hydroxybutyric dehydrogenases were slight. The activities of alpha-glycerophosphate, glutamic and betahydroxybutyric dehydrogenases were faint or slight. The activities of NADPlinked dehydrogenases, glucose-6-phosphate and isocitric dehydrogenase were all faint or slight in these sarcoma cells.