Is it still adequate to study the nervous system using methods of catalytic enzyme histochemistry?

Abstract

The frequent use of methods different from enzyme histochemistry evokes the question, whether it is still useful to apply methods of catalytic enzyme histochemistry to study the nervous system. In this brief overview it is shown, that catalytic enzyme histochemistry can still contribute to a better understanding of nervous system function. This was enabled by methodological progress, i.e., the modification of already existing procedures or the development of new techniques for the visualization and measurement of enzymes in tissue sections using their catalytic properties. The methods for acetylcholinesterase, monoamine oxidase as well as certain exoglycosidases and phosphatases will be given as examples. The application of these procedures as well as of methods for proteases, oxyradical-generating oxidases and enzymes involved in the metabolism of amino acid and other transmitters will illustrate, that qualitative (localization) and quantitative (measurement) catalytic enzyme histochemistry can still contribute to a better understanding of nervous system function.