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The quantitative assay of 5′-nucleotidase in brain by histophotometry

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Synopsis

A method for the photometric assay of 5′-nucleotidase in histochemical preparations of brain is described. The method, which is based upon the determination of the specular density under the microscope of the final reaction product, is shown to be valid statistically because of the correlation of the values obtained by it with those obtained by biochemical assay of the enzyme in adjacent sections. Correlation of the specular density with the amount of lead in the final reaction product is also shown. The accuracy of the method of assay is good as judged by a coefficient of variation of 9.1% in a series of replicate measurements. The assay of the amount of enzymic activity by this method shows that it is linearly proportional to the incubation time for periods of up to 2 hr, and also for sections ranging in thickness from 5 to 20 μ.

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Scott, T.G. The quantitative assay of 5′-nucleotidase in brain by histophotometry. Histochem J 1, 215–229 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01081410

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01081410

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