Catalase in salivary gland striated and excretory duct cells. III. Immunocytochemical demonstration with fluorescein and peroxidase-labelled antibodies.

There has been disagreement as to the identity of the enzyme responsible for the peroxidate activity in luminal epithelial cells of distal ducts of salivary glands; both peroxidase and catalase could be responsible. Our immunocytochemical investigations using anti-catalase antibodies demonstrate that there are high levels of catalase in these cells in the mouse submandibular gland confirming previous enzyme histochemical studies from this laboratory. Since only relatively small amounts of lactoperoxidase are observed in ductal cells by conventional histochemistry or immunocytochemistry, there can be little doubt that the majority of the peroxidatic activity in striated and excretory duct luminal epithelial cells is due to catalase.