Phosphatase enzymes. Cytochemical study of pleomorphic adenoma and normal human salivary glands

Human parotid glands, submandibular glands, and pleomorphic adenomas were examined by electron microscopic histochemistry. All epithelial cells of the normal salivary glands showed plasma membrane adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and inosine diphosphatase (IDPase) activity. However, myoepithelial cells reacted most intensely. Pleomorphic adenomas showed epithelial cells within solid and ductal portions of the tumors that were variably reactive for both ATPase and IDPase. Histochemical examination of the epithelial cells in the myxoid portions of the tumors did not provide conclusive evidence as to the nature of their progenitor cells. Surface-associated phosphatases (alkaline phosphatase, ATPase, and IDPase) cannot be reliably used as histochemical markers of salivary gland myoepithelial cells. Therefore, morphological and phosphatase histochemical studies that intend to examine the role of myoepithelial cells in salivary gland neoplasms must be interpreted with care.