HISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON DPN DIAPHORASE SYSTEM IN HUMAN TUMOR CELLS

Abstract

The histochemical procedures of lactic dehydrogenase-DPN diaphorase and of DPN diaphorase itself were employed in the tissues of gastric cancer and related gastric changes. Other various neoplasms such as pulmonary cancer, hepatoma etc. were also examined. As a characteristic reaction, most of the gastric cancer cells showed distinctive activity by formazan formation. This staining pattern was not uniformly present in all components of the neoplasms. The enzyme activities were most intense in the cells at the invading clusters and isolated cell groups. Generally, the undifferentiated anaplastic cells stained in deep violet color. Whereas, the degenerative cells always decreased or diminished the staining reaction. The distinctive reaction pattern in other various tumors was also suggested to be identical with gastric cancer. The significance of these findings for metabolic pathway of tumor cells was discussed.