Cytochemical studies of acid phosphatases in the rat lateral prostate with special reference to secretory apparatus and lysosome system.

A cytochemical study of acid phosphatase (AcP-ase) in the lateral prostate of the rat was performed to investigate whether AcP-ase in the secretory apparatus can be distinguished from AcP-ase in lysosomes and their related structures. Two types of AcP-ase were observed in the rat lateral prostate. One was found in the secretory apparatus (Golgi saccules and some Golgi vesicles, condensing and secretory vacuoles), and reacted well with naphthol AS-BI phosphate (N AS-BI P) as substrate; the other was found in the lysosomes and Golgi-associated endoplasmic-reticulum-lysosome system (GERL)-like structure, and reacted well with beta-glycerophosphate (beta GP) as substrate. Although the AcP-ase which reacted well with N AS-BI P was also observed in certain portions of pleomorphic lysosomes, it was concluded that it was the same as the AcP-ase found in the condensing and secretory vacuoles, since a lysosome engulfing a condensing vacuole was often observed. Therefore, it is concluded that the AcP-ase in the secretory apparatus in the rat lateral prostate is different from the AcP-ase in lysosomes. Condensing vacuoles appear to originate from particular portions of Golgi saccules, but not from the GERL or GERL-like structure, at least in the rat lateral prostate.