The enzyme histochemistry of the choroid plexus

Although there is some evidence that extrachoroidal sites for the production of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are important, the choroid plexuses in the ventricles contribute the major part of CSF formation. The exact mechanism for CSF production is not fully understood. In order to study this mechanism from the enzyme histochemical standpoint, the previously reported studies are reviewed, in addition to the authors' own electron microscopic enzyme histochemical observations on this tissue. The ultrastructure and enzyme biochemistry of choroid plexus epithelial cells are considered, together with the histochemistry of the following enzymes: alkaline and acid phosphatase, Mg2+-ATPase, Na+, K+-ATPase, glucose-6-phosphatase, thiamine pyrophosphatase, adenylate cyclase, carbonic anhydrase, oxidoreductase, esterase, several hydrolases, and other enzymes. Finally, CSF formation and active transport in the choroid plexus epithelial cells are discussed, mainly in terms of the results of our enzyme cytochemical observations on Na+, K+-ATPase and carbonic anhydrase in this tissue.