Cytochemistry of human catalase. The demonstration of hepatic and renal peroxisomes by a high temperature procedure.

The cytochemical demonstration of marker enzymes for subcellular organelles permits light microscopic analysis of their structure and function in normal and diseased tissues. Currently available staining procedures for the peroxidatic activity of catalase in peroxisomes of plant and animal cells yield weak and inconsistent light microscopic staining when applied to human tissues. We have developed a simple and sensitive high temperature procedure that clearly and reproducibly stains these abundant, but poorly understood, organelles in biopsy specimens of human liver and kidney. This method utilizes formaldehyde fixation, a modified diaminobenzidine (DAB) medium, incubation at 45 degrees C and postosmication for both light and electron microscopy.