No abstract

AnSley et al. demonstrated substrate specificity in different types of blood cells (2, 3, :34). These findings would suggest that there are multiple esterases in human blood cells. However, since these histochemical methods were performed with various substrates and couplers and at a different pH, it is difficult to know whether the same type of esterase was demonstrated. These problems may be solved by zymogram studies as advocated by Hunter and Burstone (17). The present investigation used both polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and cytochemical techniques to study the leukocyte esterases and to establish specific methods for their demonstration in the various types of blood cells. MATERIAI.S AND METHODS Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis Extraction of leukocyte esterases: Several methods for enzyme extraction were examined. These include: water extract with six cycles of freezing and