Stabilization of configurational states and enzyme activities in subcellular fractions after fixation with extremely low concentrations of glutaraldehyde.

The activities of various enzymes in some subcellular organelle fractions were examined after fixation in glutaraldehyde of various concentrations. A high speed centrifuge was used to shorten the fixation time. At the lowest concentration (0.01%) glutaraldehyde stabilized instable configurational states of mitochondria as revealed by electron microscopy. In addition, at this concentration, at least 70% of the original monoamine oxidase, ATPase and cytochrome oxidase activities were preserved. The activity of acid phosphatase, on the other hand, was enhanced in a lysosomal fraction when fixed with the aldehyde at higher concentrations, e.g. 0.1% and 1.0%. It is possible that the aldehyde at higher concentrations has the same effects on the lysosomal membrane as freeze-thawing. Glucose-6-phosphatase activity was well-preserved in a microsomal fraction fixed with 0.01% glutaraldehyde but was decreased drastically when the concentration of the aldehyde was greater than 0.05%.