Lysosomal enzymic activity of astroglial cells

Using human and rat Glioma cell lines and mouse astrocytes prepared from newborn mice, lysosomal enzymatic activity, which is closely related with phagocytic activity, was assayed by spectrophotometric measurement of p-nitrophenol liberated from the relevant substrate. Lysosomal N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and acid phosphatase activity was detected in neoplastic astrocytes at a level of enzymatic activity equal to that of monocyte/macrophage cell lines in certain glioma cells. From the implication of this data, it is suspected that astrocytes may function as phagocytic cells at inflammatory brain lesions.