A Study of the Histochemical Demonstration of Cytochrome Oxidase

Burstone's procedure for the histochemical demonstration of cytochrome oxidase has been studied and applied to sections prepared by freezing in hexane and cutting by the controlled-temperature freezing-sectioning technique. The method has been modified by the inclusion of a treatment with Lugol's iodine to yield a stronger colour, which is stable for at least several weeks and which localizes the enzyme activity more precisely. The variants of the reaction have been compared in their effect on cardiac muscle, liver, and kidney of the rat.