OBJECTIVE:This study determined levels of cathepsin D activity in tissue components of normal human ovary to establish a basis for comparison with human ovarian adenocarcinomas.
METHODS:Cathepsin D activity per mg tissue, per μg protein, and per μg DNA was determined in human ovarian tissues (cortex, follicle, corpus luteum, corpus albicans) from patients of various ages and during the menstrual cycle. Levels of cathepsin D activity were also determined in ovarian adenocarcinomas and other pathologic tissues.
RESULTS:Cathepsin D levels (per mg tissue) were significantly greater (P < .001) in ovarian follicle and corpus luteum compared with cortex. Although there was not a clear correlation between enzyme activity in the cortex and day of the menstrual cycle or patient age, levels of enzyme activity appeared to decrease with each parameter. Cathepsin D levels per mg tissue in ovarian adenocarcinoma were 40% higher than in postmenopausal ovarian cortex, but the differ ence was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION:The diversity of cathepsin D levels in normal ovarian tissue compartments indicates that specific tissues must be used in comparisons with ovarian tumors. (J Soc Gynecol Invest 1994;1:173-7)
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