Dictribution of tissue lipoprotein lipase activity in feline bulbourethral gland structures

Abstract

The aim of the present study was a demonstration of LPL activity and localization in feline bulbourethral glands. The glands of seven sexually mature, clinically healthy European shorthair male cats, aged 12-18 months, weighing 2.8-4 kg, obtained from a licensed animal breeder were investigated in the present study. Cryostat cross sections of 5-7 µm were used for enzyme histochemical detection of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) by the Gomori Tween method. The reaction was positive when clusters of dark-brown lead sulfide precipitates were present. The localization of tissue LPL expression was determined by light microscopy. The intensity of the reaction was assessed by a semi-quantitative analysis using the score system. In the present study, high LPL activity was detected in apical parts of the bulbourethral glandular epithelium and in the lumen of glandular tubules. A medium activity of LPL expression was present in the basal parts of parenchymal epithelial cells. No LPL activity was found out in the muscular layer of bulbourethral glands‘ capsule, whereas in the stroma, where smooth muscle tissue was predominating, the LPL enzyme activity was low.