Comparative histochemical localization of some hydrolytic enzymes in mammalian epididymides

The activity of enzymes hydrolyzing sodium-beta-glycerophosphate, adenosine triphosphate, adenosine monophosphate, and glucose-6-phosphate in the epididymides of adult ram, rabbit, rat and hamster has been investigated histochemically. The enzymes hydrolyzing sodium-beta-glycerophosphate, adenosine triphosphate and adenosine monophosphate were rather similar in their distribution in the intertubular connective tissue of the epididymides of the four species studied. However, the distribution and activity of these enzymes in the stereocilia varied. There was a high activity in the stereocilia of the middle segments of ram, rabbit and rat and in the proximal part of the terminal segment of hamster epididymides. Glucose-6-phosphatase was distributed homogeneously in the epithelial cells of the epididymides throughout the duct. The possible functions of these enzymes in the mammalian epididymis are briefly discussed.