Practical guide for morphometry of human peroxisomes on electron micrographs.

Morphometry of peroxisomes is performed on electron micrographs of ultrathin sections after staining for catalase activity with diaminobenzidine; specific peroxisomal labelling is preferred to guarantee recognition. Peroxisomal number, size, axial ratio and volume parameters are determined and compared to control values. Results from 19 patients with loss of peroxisomal functions are listed.

Immunocytochemical localization of peroxisomal proteins in human liver and kidney.

The sample preparation and immunocytochemical methods for investigating the presence and subcellular localization of peroxisomal proteins (catalase, the three beta-oxidation enzymes, alanine : glyoxylate aminotransferase and a peroxisomal membrane protein) in human liver biopsies are described. We present a protocol for immunolabelling on ultrathin and semithin sections from the same tissue block, with protein A-colloidal gold as a reporter system. For this purpose, the tissue is embedded in Unicryl, a hydrophilic acrylic resin that is cured by ultraviolet illumination at 2 degrees C.