Electron microscopic cytochemistry of acid phosphatase activity in dystrophic axons of rat gracile nuclei.

Dystrophic axons (DAs) in rat gracile nuclei were largely classified into two types. One type had a focal swelling measuring about 2-8 microns in diameter, and contained greatly increased numbers of various cellular organelles. Numerous reaction products of acid phosphatase (ACPase) cytochemistry were deposited in the cytoplasmic matrix and the multilaminated bodies. The second type ranged from 8 microns to 50 microns in diameter, and was characterized by the presence of a large number of fine tubular structures in the cytoplasm. Only a few reaction products of ACPase cytochemistry were localized in the small vesicular structures. The functional role of ACPase in the degradation and accumulation of cellular organelles in DAs is discussed.