Enzyme activity is essential in histology for several reasons:
1. Diagnostic Tool: It helps identify disease states. For instance, increased enzyme activity might indicate inflammation, while decreased activity could suggest necrosis or tissue damage. 2. Tissue Identification: Different tissues exhibit unique enzyme profiles. For instance, liver tissue shows high activity of enzymes like ALT (alanine aminotransferase) and AST (aspartate aminotransferase). 3. Metabolic Pathways: Understanding enzyme activity can reveal insights into metabolic pathways and cellular functions within the tissue.
