Post-mortem visualization of peroxisomes in rat and in human liver

This paper describes spontaneous post-mortem changes of peroxisomal staining in normal liver and kidney of rats and in human autopsy liver. At room temperature, regional staining loss is observed at 18 h after death in rat kidney, at 24 h in human liver and at 48 h in rat liver. Preservation at 4 degrees C delays this phenomenon. In human liver, the peroxisomal volume density is decreased at both temperatures at 48 h. After freezing of fresh tissue in dry ice, peroxisomal staining is decreased homogeneously. Under the electron microscope, peroxisomal alterations suggest a loss of catalase activity. These changes do not necessarily preclude the study of peroxisomal features since, even after 48 h at room temperature, peroxisomes are still well stained in the less affected regions. Catalase and three beta-oxidation enzymes, namely acyl-CoA oxidase, bifunctional protein (with enoyl-CoA hydratase and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase) and 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase, could be visualized immunocytochemically in human autopsy livers up to 48 h after death. However, the study of certain peroxisomal features such a catalase activity and peroxisomal distribution, may be hampered as the post-mortem period is prolonged.