Summary
A sensitive cytochemical staining method for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in individual human erythrocytes is described. This staining method can be used for the rapid routine discrimination of patients with a deficiency of the enzyme in its homozygote or heterozygote form, but also for quantitative localization of its activity in individual erythrocytes. The staining procedure in its optimal form consists of a treatment of the erythrocytes with sodium nitrite, then a “fixation” in 0.025% glutaraldehyde (under NADP+ protection of the active site of the enzyme), followed by incubation of the cells in suspension in the presence of tetranitro BT, 1-methoxyphenazine methosulphate and polyvinyl alcohol. Using this new technique, a sharp localization is obtained of the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, which enables discrimination between red cells with different levels of enzyme activity, as a consequence of enzyme deficiencies or age changes.
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van Noorden, C.J.F., Vogels, I.M.C., James, J. et al. A sensitive cytochemical staining method for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in individual erythrocytes. Histochemistry 75, 493–506 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00640601
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00640601