Alkaline phosphatase and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase in osteoblasts of normal and pathologic bone.

A review of histochemical and immunohistochemical studies on alkaline phosphatase (AP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) in osteoblasts leads to the following conclusions: 1) AP is a typical (non-specific) marker of osteoblasts, and TRAP is a typical (non-specific) marker of osteoclasts; 2) both enzymes may be used to identify the precursors of these cells and are found in young osteocytes; 3) both are released into the extracellular space; 4) both are expressed by metaphyseal osteoblast-like cells whose ultrastructural characteristics are similar to those of post-osteoclastic cells of the basic multicellular unit (BMU) and are also exhibited by osteoblasts and macrophages; 5) the increased numbers of these cells in hypocalcemic animals suggests that the local calcium ion concentration may trigger the transition of the reversal into the formation phase of the BMU.