Histochemical Studies on the Cholesterol Esterase Activity

Abstract

Since the development of the Tween method for lipase and esterase by Gomori, these enzymes have been intensely studied histochemically. Up to date, however, no histochemical studies were performed on the cholesterol esterase activity in animal tissues. The enzyme, which could hydrolyze the fatty acid esters of cholesterol, was prepared from animal tissues and the name “cholesterol esterase” has deen applied. Byron et al (1953) and Hernandez and Chaikoff (1957) have studied this enzyme biochemically.
From the histochemical points of view, the problems of the substrate specificity of esterases, particularly those of lipase and non-specific esterase, are very interesting and also of grest importance. Therefore, it is expected that the histochemical findings of the cholesterol esterase activity may make some contributions to the solution of the problems of substrate specificity of esterases.