Electron microscopic histochemistry of cholinesterase activity of vater-pacini corpuscle

Abstract

The cholinesterase activity of the Vater-Pacini corpuscle in the periosteum of mouse fibula was histochemically studied by light and electron microscopy. The enzyme activity was confined to the inner core of the corpuscle. It was revealed that the reaction product was found in the perineural spaces between the nerve ending and apposing inner core lamellae, and also in the interlamellar spaces. The reaction product was also found in the nuclear envelope and in the cisterns of the rough endoplasmic reticulum of the inner core cells. The enzyme activity was totally suppressed by eserine 10–4M and by iso-OMPA 10-4M. No enzyme activity was demonstrated in the outer core and capsule. The nerve ending showed no distinct enzyme activity. These findings indicate that the mouse Pacini corpuscle has non-specific cholinesteraase activity in its inner core, and that the enzyme may be synthesized in the inner core cells and released into the perineural and interlamellar spaces. © 1980, JAPAN SOCIETY OF HISTOCHEMISTRY AND CYTOCHEMISTRY. All rights reserved.