Effect of Cortisone and Thyroxine on Acid β-Glycosidases in the Liver and Kidney of Suckling and Adult Rats[*]

 

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Abstract

The effect of daily administration of cortisone (5 mg/100g. b.w.) and thyroxine (200 µg/100 g b.w.) on the activities of acid β-galactosidase, β-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase in rat liver and kidney was studied throughout the post-natal developmental period. Activities of these enzymes in the kidney were unaffected by hormonal treatment except during the 11-15 day period. Whereas β-glucuronidase activity was significantly decreased by both cortisone and thyroxine. N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase activity was significantly decreased only by cortisone and thyroxine treatment. A common response pattern was found in most cases; cortisone decreased and thyroxine increased enzyme activity with the following exceptions: (a) cortisone did not significantly affect β-galactosidase activity in 8 and 30-day old rats, β-glucuronidase activity in adults or N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase activity in 6 and 8 day old rats and adults; (b) cortisone evoked a significant increase of acid β-galactosidase activity in adults; (c) thyroxine did not significantly affect β-galactosidase activity in 30-day old rats and β-glucuronidase activity in 6 and 30-day old rats.

Time dependency of the effect of thyroxine on the three enzymes was studied in adult liver. The 200 µg/100 g body weight/daily dose caused a significant increase after 3 days and continuous administration for 10 days elevated further the specific activity of the enzymes studied. LT₄ in a lower dose (200 µg/100 g b.w. daily) or DT₄ (200 µg/100 g b.w. daily) had an increasing effect when administered for 4 consecutive days.

1 Supported by grant #HD 08536 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A.

1 Supported by grant #HD 08536 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A.