Comparison of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase in normal mouse tissues to that in the reticulum cells of leukemic reticuloendotheliosis.

A strong activity of the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, isoenzyme 5b, was observed in mouse spleen. The enzyme of the mouse spleen had similar electrophoretic mobility and related antigenicity to that of the reticulum cells of leukemic reticuloendotheliosis. Enzyme histochemical studies showed many non-phagocytic cells with strong tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase in spleen. The data suggest that mouse tissue is a good animal model to study the normal cell type with strong tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase.