Cytochemical localization of glucose-6-phosphatase activity in cerebral endothelial cells

Glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) activity, with glucose-6-phosphate and mannose-6-phosphate as substrates, was examined by cytochemistry in capillary and arteriole endothelial cells of the mouse brain. G6Pase activity was observed ultrastructurally in the lumen of the nuclear envelope and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of these cells. The reactive ER and nuclear membrane appeared to be in continuity. Nucleoside diphosphatase activity, also a marker for the ER in some cell types, was not seen within the ER of the cerebral microvasculature. The ER of arterioles and capillaries did not bind lead nonspecifically when incubated in a substrate-free medium. Speculation is raised concerning the involvement of G6Pase in glucose metabolism of cerebral endothelial cells and in making blood-borne glucose available to brain parenchyma.