Abstract
Abstract
The activities per microgram DNA of five lysosomal enzymes [cathepsin D, cathepsin B, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (β-NAG), β-glucuronidase, and acid phosphatase] were measured in homogenates of female and male rat (Sprague–Dawley) hearts. Female rats were studied during stages of the estrous cycle and at 3 weeks after ovariectomy. Three-week-postovariectomized female rats and intact male rats were injected subcutaneously with 17β-estradiol-3-benzoate. Lysosomal enzyme activities in the male rat heart were more responsive to exogenous estradiol than were activities in the female rat heart. Cathepsin B, β-NAG, and β-glucuronidase were increased dramatically in the male rat heart upon short-term administration of estrogen (4 days). In both female and male rat hearts, activities of two lysosomal proteinases, cathepsins B and D, were reduced significantly (~50%) by extended administration of estrogen for 10 days.
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