LOCALIZATION OF PEROXIDASE ACTIVITY IN MICROBODIES OF FETAL MOUSE LIVER

Abstract

The peroxidase activity of microbodies in fetal mouse liver was studied by light and electron microscopy. Two types of microbodies were present; a small population of bodies that lacked a nucleoid, predominant on the 16th day of gestation, and a larger population of nucleoid-bearing microbodies, predominant on the 19th day, in association with the rough endoplasmic reticulum from which they probably originate. Both types of bodies were visualized when incubated for peroxidase activity but were negative (19th day) for acid phosphatase activity. The findings suggest that the anucleoid- and nucleoid-bearing organelles together constitute the microbody population of the fetal liver.