Catalase positive particles from pig lung. Biochemical preparations and morphological studies.

In pig lung tissue catalase positive particles (CPs) are abundant especially in type II pneumocytes and in Clara cells. In both cell types they occur as circular, oval or elongated membrane profiles surrounding a moderately electron dense matrix lacking a crystalline core. In Clara cells and in part of type II pneumocytes they are located as individual particles without any evident morphological relation to other cell organelles. In part of type II pneumocytes 5-8 particles are forming a group and their close relation to agranular endoplasmic reticulum cisterns is evident. The particles can be purified from lung homogenates by fractionated pelleting and subsequent rate sedimentation in a sucrose gradient using a zonal rotor. The catalase rich fraction bands in the middle of the gradient whereas cytochrome oxidase and part of the acid phosphatase sediments at its heavy end. A second part of acid phosphatase stays at the light end of the gradient and--according to morphological control--seems to correspond to lamellar bodies of the type II pneumocytes. The purified catalase positive particles do not contain hydroxyacid and D-aminoacid oxidases thought to be characteristic H2O2 producing enzymes of peroxisomal systems. The buoyant density of the particles (d = 1.195 g/cm3) is lower than that of liver peroxisomes. Cytochemical controls of the peroxisomal pellets exhibit the particles partly uniformly filled with reaction product, partly irregularly stained.