ESTERASE XXIV: SUBCELLULAR LOCALIZATION OF ORGANOPHOSPHATE-SENSITIVE ESTERASES IN RAT ADRENALS BY AUTORADIOGRAPHY

An autoradiographic method was applied in the study of esterase localization in the ultrastructure of rat adrenal glands. Reaction with 3H-diisopropyl fluorophosphate was used to demonstrate esterase activity in various intracellular compartments. The silver grains were observed over lipid granules, mitochondria and smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum, each of which is envolved in steroidogenesis. No silver grains could be detected over the nuclei or over lysosomes. The results are in agreement with those obtained by an ultrahistochemical heavy metal method