The electron microscopic localization of alkaline phosphatase in Pacinian corpuscles of the cat

The ultrastructural localization of alkaline phosphatase has been studied in Pacinian corpuscles of the cat mesentery by the method of Mayahara et al. (1967) with 3 substrates. As control studies, specimens were incubated in the medium containing L-cysteine (10 mmol) or EDTA (5 mmol). The electron opaque final reaction product was observed on plasmic membranes and in cytoplasm and pinocytotic vesicles of the inner core cells. The precipitate was present also in rough endoplasmic reticulum, multivesicular bodies, and cytoplasmic vacuoles of the inner core lamellae. The axon revealed the positive enzymatic activity in the axolemma and the scattered precipitate was found in axoplasm. The pinocytotic vesicles in the capillary endothelium entering Pacinian corpuscles contained the reaction product, too. The capsule lamellae were devoid of precipitate. Localization of alkaline phosphatase in pinocytotic vesicles of the inner core lamellae and capillary wall support the opinion that this enzyme plays the significant role in the phenomenon of the transport of molecules through inner core lamellae from capillaries to the axon in Pacinian corpuscles.