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The distribution of acid phosphatase and non-specific esterase in glia cells of normal and pathological human nervous tissue has been histochemically studied. Acid phosphatase is prominent in cortical glia, especially in the first layer astrocytes, while non-specific esterase prevails in white matter oligodendrocytes. In reactive glia both enzyme activities result increased. The intracellular sites of enzyme activity correspond to PAS-positive and autofluorescent material which represents largely lipopigments. The two enzyme activities studied seem to be associated to these structures. The use of inhibitors and activators allows to recognize that non-specific esterase partly is sensitive and partly is resistant to E 600. The former prevails in white matter oligodendrocytes and the latter is prominent in pericytes and reactive glia cells. pCMB failed to give histochemically any enzyme modification. The significance of the findings in the different glia forms is discussed. Die Verteilung von sauer Phosphatase und unspezifischer Esterase in den Gliazellen von normalem und pathologischem menschlichen Nervengewebe wurde histochemisch untersucht. Die saure Phosphatase uberwiegt in der Glia der Rinde, besonders in den Astrocyten der ersten Schicht, wahrend die unspezifische Esterase in den Oligodendrogliazellen der weisen Substanz vorherrscht. In der reaktiven Glia ist die Aktivitat beider Enzyme erhoht. Der intracellulare Ort der Enzymaktivitat deckt sich mit PAS-positivem und autofluorescierendem Material, das hauptsachlich Lipopigmenten entspricht; die Aktivitat beider Enzyme scheint an diese Strukturen gebunden zu sein. Die Verwendung von Inhibitoren und Aktivatoren erlaubt die Beobachtung, das die unspezifische Esterase teils empfindlich gegen E 600, teils unempfindlich ist. Die empfindliche uberwiegt in den Oligodendrogliazellen der weisen Substanz, die resistente in Pericyten und reaktiven Gliazellen. p-Chloromercuribenzoat bewirkt histochemisch keine Enzymmodifikation. Die Bedeutung der Befunde in den verschiedenen Gliazelltypen wird diskutiert.

Beta-glucuronidase activity has been studied in 46 cerebral tumors by Naphthol AS-BI beta-D-glucuronide and diazotized pararosanilin. The distribution pattern of the enzyme activity is similar to that already observed for other lysosomal enzymes, with some minor differences. The histochemical staining increases in regressive or catabolic areas so that its relationship with malignancy appears to be indirect. Special regard is devoided to some cytotypes, such as giant cells of glioblastoma and gemistocytic astrocytes whose high enzyme activity is considered as a sign of cellular regression.

The distribution and localization of acid phosphatase activity have been studied in 58 biopsies of cerebral tumors and peritumoral cortex. Hexazonium pararosanilin method with alpha-naphthyl-phosphate and naphthol AS-TR as substrates has been employed. The enzyme activity may be amorphous, granular or globular in the different cell elements. Its intensity in cerebral tumors appears to be generally in relation with the degenerative occurrences rather than with single cytotypes. The higher values reached in anaplastic tumors are to be put in relation with their frequent regressive changes. The most intense activity is observed in the reactive gliomesodermic cells of cerebral abscesses; in a case of reticulum-cell-sarcoma a characteristic distribution pattern of acid phosphatase is present. Because of their lysosomal nature, the structures stained with acid phosphatase method give at the same time PAS-positive reaction and autofluorescence.

In order to elucidate the nature of the lymphocyte-like nuclei in medulloblastomata, 46 tumours have been histologically and histochemically investigated. 3 types of these nuclei can be distinguished: granule cells of the cerebellum included in the tumour; nuclei of necrotic type grouped in small foci; and nuclei of nonnecrobiotic type. The latter are considered to be the result of pathological processes affecting mitoses and to represent the different stages of these processes. In this regard the presence of abnormal mitoses in medulloblastoma is emphasized, as they must be expected in a rapidly growing tumour.

Non-specific esterase has been histochemically studied in 45 cerebral tumors of neurosurgical source. Different substrates and couplers as well as several effectors have been used. The E 600-resistant enzyme activity behaves like acid phosphatase and appears to be in relation with the catabolic or regressive occurrences. This association explains its high value in anaplastic tumors. Also the E 600-sensitive enzyme activity increases with malignancy, but it appears rather in relation with the volume of the cytoplasms. The different oncotypes and cytotypes are discussed in the light of the obtained results.