Histochemical observation of adenocarcinoma in the oral cavity

Abstract

The present study dealt with the histochemical localisation of six hydrolytic enzymes (alkaline and acid phosphatases, adenocine triphosphatase, non-specific esterase, aminopeptidase, and β -glucuronidase) and nine oxidative enzymes (succinate, lactate, malate, glutamate, α -glycerophosphate, glucose-6-phosphate and isocitrate dehydrogenases, lipoic acid dehydrogenase and monoamine oxidase) in the three cases of adenocarcinoma. Alkaline phosphatase was generally negative or slightly positive in tumour epithelia but usually positive in stromas. Acid phosphatase was moderate in tumour cells and esterase showed a moderate activity. β -Glucuronidase activity was high in tumour cells but much less in the squamous metaplastic cells. Aminopeptidase was absent in tumour cells. Succinate dehydrogenase in tumour epithelia was generally low, while lactate and malate dehydrogenases were most intense. NAD-dependent dehydrogenase studied showed a similar distribution in adenocarcinoma except for enzymatic activities. NADP-dependent glucose-6-phosphate and isocitrate dehydrogenases were distributed in tumour epithelia. Monoamine oxidase showed a low activity in tumour cells.