Histochemical demonstration of mouse submandibular esterproteases with a new chromogenic substrate.

A new method for the histochemical demonstration of mouse submandibular esterproteases has been developed. The substrate is N-acetyl-L-methionine alpha-naphthyl ester. The main enzyme reaction was found in the apical region of the secretory tubules with a marked sex difference as expected. First attempts were made to differentiate histochemically between the various esterproteolytic enzymes.