Increased activity of acid phosphatase and β-glucuronidase in the liver and spleen of mice after intraperitoneal administration of various macromolecular substances

In the present investigation the macromolecular substances dextran, polyvinylpyrrolidone, Periston and carbon were injected into the peritoneal cavity of mice. The acid phosphatase and β-glucuronidase activities of the liverand spleen were investigated biochemically and histochemically. The localization of the macromolecular materials stored in these organs was investigated histochemically. Histochemical results. In the liver the macromolecular substances were stored in the cytoplasm of the Kupffer cells, and dextran also in the cytoplasm of the parenchymal cells. In the spleen the macromolecular substances were exclusively stored in the cytoplasm of the reticulum cells. In the livers of the control animals, activity of the two enzymes was found almost exclusively in the Kupffer cells. In the livers of injected animals, activity of the two enzymes was seen in both the Kupffer and the parenchymal cells. In the spleen, only the reticulum cells surrounding the follicles show acid phosphatase and β-glucuronidase activity. Biochemical results. The total activity of acid phosphatase and β-glucuronidase in the liver and spleen of mice injected with the specified macromolecular substances was significantly increased compared with control animals which were not injected or which received injections of physiological saline solution. The total activity of both enzymes in both organs showed no variation as a result of fasting or injection with physiological saline solution. A possible correlation is also indicated between the activity of acid phosphatase and of β-glucuronidase per unit weight for both liver and spleen in those mice which were not injected with macromolecular substances. This correlation could, however, not be demonstrated after the injection of the macromolecular substances. As a result of the storage of the macromolecular substances, the weights of the liver and of the spleen rose significantly.