Ultracytochemical studies of lysosomal function in the macrophages of human leprosy--I.

The present study was undertaken to understand the lysosomal status and function in macrophages across the leprosy spectrum, including the reactional states. Acid phosphatase was used as the marker enzyme to demonstrate lysosomes at the electron microscopic level. It was observed that lysosomal morphology was well maintained in the macrophages of tuberculoid, borderline tuberculoid, and borderline tuberculoid leprosy in reaction, while they lost their cellular morphology and cell membrane integrity in lepromatous leprosy and lepromatous leprosy in reaction. The importance of these findings is discussed.