Cerium-based cytochemical method for detection of ouabain-sensitive, potassium-dependent p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity at physiological pH.

We have developed a new cytochemical method for detecting the ouabain-sensitive, potassium-dependent p-nitrophenylphosphatase (K-NPPase) activity of the sodium-potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase (Na-K ATPase) complex. The incubation medium contains p-nitrophenylphosphate (p-NPP) as substrate, cerium chloride as capture agent, Tricine buffer, MgCl2, and KCl. Tricine buffer protected against the medium turbidity caused by non-enzymatic reaction at pH 7.5. Biochemically, the accumulation of p-nitrophenol and phosphate in the reaction precipitate was proportionally related to the enzyme concentration. Ultracytochemically, the reaction products of the K-NPPase activity were localized as fine and uniform electron-dense deposits in the cytoplasmic side of specialized basolateral plasma membranes of cells of kidney distal convoluted tubules, secretory cells of salt gland, and marginal cells of stria vascularis. This method has the advantage of being useful at physiological pH.