Enzyme Histochemistry of the Human Carotid Body

Histochemical enzymatic survey of 25 normal human carotid bodies removed at autopsy from patients three days to 83 years of age revealed a variety of oxidative and hydrolytic enzymes in the lobular and interlobular cells. The intensity of the reactions was greater in the lobular cells. Acid phosphatase was the only enzyme that was limited to the cells comprising the lobules