The changes in some hydrolytic enzymes in carbon tetrachloride-induced fatty livers

Abstract

The activities of six hydrolytic enzymes (arylsulphatases A and B, ribonuclease, acid phosphatase, B-glucoronidase, cathepsin) and of uricase were measured in liver homogenates from rats after treatment wich carbon tetrachloride. An increase in soluble activity was found to occur for all enzymes studied. The extent of this increase, as well as the time at which it appeared or disappeared, was different from one enzyme to another. The soluble activities of cathepsin and of ribonuclease increased only at 6 hr. The specific activities of arylsulphatases, ribonuclease and cathepsin significantly increased in late stages of poisoning. The specific activity of [beta]-glucuronidase and of acid phosphatase remained unchanged. That of uricase decreased in late stages. Lysosome''-rich sediments were subfractionated by differential centrifuging. The distribution of enzymic activities among three subtractions was studied. Treatment with carbon tetrachloride produced significant changes in enzyme distribution, which were different from one enzyme to another. The specific activities of the enzymes were found to be increased in arylsulphatases, cathepsin and ribonuclease. The causes for the observed results are discussed.