Light microscopical localization of acid and alkaline phosphatase activity by lanthanum-lead-(La-Pb)-methods

This paper reports on the application of lanthanum cations instead of cerium ions as captures to detect acid and alkaline phosphatase activity in the rat kidney and small intestine. The basis of the proposed histochemical reactions is a three step procedure in analogy to the earlier published cerium-based techniques: the lanthanum phosphate was converted into lead phosphate and finally into the brown coloured lead sulfide [lanthanum-lead-(La-Pb)-reaction]. The results reveal that the La-Pb-reactions are more sensitive in comparison to the Ce-Pb-reactions. Methodological experiments involving lanthanide specific blocking reactions are discussed. Lanthanum cations are recommended as a useful tool in histochemical capture techniques of phosphatases.