Quantitative immunoferritin localization of leucine aminopeptidase on canine hepatocyte cell surface

Rabbit monospecific antibody against canine kidney leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) (EC.3.4.11.2) specifically immunoprecipitated kidney and also liver LAP activity from corresponding plasma membrane preparations previously solubilized with Triton X-100. Immunological specificity of the antibody was also shown by immunoblotting of LAP from canine and rat liver plasma membranes and by electrophoretic analyses of the precursor forms in MDCK cells. Canine liver was pre-fixed by perfusion with 0.6% glutaraldehyde and the dissociated liver cells were prepared without losing their polarized structure (22). They were incubated with ferritin antibody conjugates against canine kidney LAP at the saturation level, and the distribution of ferritin particles on the three surface domains of the hepatocytes was investigated quantitatively by counting ferritin particles on the cross-sectional profiles of these surfaces. Our analysis clearly indicated that LAP exists only on the bile canalicular surface, and no significant number of ferritin particles was detected either on the sinusoidal front or on the lateral surface. Ferritin particles were distributed homogeneously both on the microvillar and intermicrovillar regions. All the bile canalicular surface domains of all the hepatocytes were heavily labeled with ferritin particles, without exception.