The relationship among the reaction product colors of non-specific esterase by alpha-naphthyl acetate method

The present work is concerned with the relationship of the different colors of NSE (non-specific esterase) reaction product, in which alpha-naphthyl acetate and diazotate of o-dianisidine (Fast Blue B salt) were used as a substrate and a coupler respectively to describe the histochemical characteristics of NSE in chick embryonic mesonephros and metanephros. Our preliminary results throw light on the nature of NSE reaction produced colors, under light microscope, which were different in various sections for different airdrying time-length. The reaction product on the slices of the convoluted tubules of chick embryonic kidney was bright yellow after less than 30 min air-drying time-length, brown after 1.5≈2 h air-drying, time-length and black after more than 3 h of air-drying. The color-change process of NSE precipitates from bright yellow to black is progressive. The phenomennon has not been described previously. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China and Morning Sunlight Programe of Wuhan City Government Xu Xuehong: born in Oct. 1962, Professor