Enzyme content of hepatocellular lysosomes in the liver of the tumour-bearing mouse.

An increase in the number of hepatocellular lysosomes was not detected in mice bearing the solid or ascites forms of Sarcoma 180 or Ehrlich's tumour. Despite this, biochemical studies showed significant increases in acid phosphatase, cathepsin-D and beta-galactosidase. This difference between morphological and biochemical observations is explained by the fact that only gross increases in lysosome population are likely to be detected in the small samples examined with the electron microscope, but by biochemical methods whereby many grams of tissue are analysed finer changes may be detected. As far as is known at present there is an increase in hepatocellular lysosomes and/or lysosomal enzymes in tumour-bearing mice, rats and man and no exception to this exists.