Effect of castration and steroid treatments on the activity of some hydrolytic enzymes in dog prostate

Adult mongrel dogs were castrated and treated by intramuscular injections of 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol (androstanediol) alone or in combination with estradiol in order to find convenient enzymatic markers of hormone action in prostate. The activities of 15 hydrolytic enzymes were determined. Arginine esterase, acid sulfatase, and acid phosphatase were found to be the most sensitive markers of testicular hormones since they were decreased 18-, 5- and 5-fold respectively after 1 month of castration. The enzyme activities returned to precastration levels after 2 weeks of injection of androstanediol to castrated animals. The effect of androstanediol on the majority of the remaining enzymes was small. In general, the activities obtained after androstanediol treatment in combination with estradiol were similar to those obtained with androstanediol alone. Finally, beta-glucuronidase and neutral sulfatase were increased after castration, a finding that suggests that these enzymes are constituents of stromal cells. These studies will provide a basis for future studies of hormone action in the dog prostate.

Evidence for X-linkage of steroid sulfatase in the mouse: steroid sulfatase levels in oocytes of XX and XO mice

The steroid sulfatase (STS) levels in mature oocytes of XX and XO mice were assayed along with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), an autosomal marker, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), a known X-linked gene. LDH levels in XX and XO oocytes were equal, whereas STS and G6PD levels were approximately twice as high in XX oocytes as in XO oocytes. These results indicate that the STS gene is X-linked in the mouse just as it is in humans. Assays of STS in kidney tissue of XX and XO mice indicated dosage compensation for the gene, which is different from that observed in humans.

Rapid laboratory diagnostic of X-linked ichthyosis

Steroid sulfatase and aryl sulfatase C activities were assayed simultaneously in peripheral blood leucocytes of 4 patients with X-linked ichthyosis (XLI) and 4 patients with autosomal-dominant ichthyosis; 11 healthy subjects served as controls. The deficiency of steroid sulfatase as well as of aryl sulfatase C found in leucocytes of patients with XLI was confirmed by the histochemical demonstration of aryl sulfatase C deficiency in skin sections. Although results are obtained earlier with the histochemical method than with the biochemical assay in leucocytes, several disadvantages brought us to the conclusion that the biochemical assay of microsomal sulfatase activity in leucocytes offers a fast and safe method for the identification of patients with XLI.

Properties of sulfatases in cultured skin fibroblasts of multiple sulfatase deficient patients

Various sulfatase activities were assayed in cultured skin fibroblasts from patients with multiple sulfatase deficiency (MSD). MSD cell lines displayed deficiencies of arylsulfatase A and iduronate sulfatase, but activities of arylsulfatase B, N-acetylgalactosamine 6-sulfate sulfatase and N-acetylglucosamine 6-sulfate sulfatase were within normal ranges, but not consistently. Arylsulfatase A, minor anionic arylsulfatase and N-acetylgalactosamine 6-sulfate sulfatase in MSD cell lines had similar Km, pH optima, inhibitory or activator sensitivity to that of normal skin fibroblasts. Arylsulfatase B in MSD cell lines also had properties similar to that of normal skin fibroblasts, except an abnormal heat stability. From our results, we conclude that properties of arylsulfatase A, minor anionic arylsulfatase and N-acetylgalactosamine 6-sulfate sulfatase in MSD fibroblasts were intact. On the other hand, arylsulfatase B in MSD might be a functionally abnormal enzyme.

Arylsulfatase-cytochemical localization in lenses of normal and galactose-fed rats

Our laboratory is involved in studying the mechanism of repair in the ocular lens. As lysosomal enzymes have been shown to play an important role in tissue repair, we have been investigating the status of lysosomal enzymes, such as acid phosphatase and arylsulfatases, in the normal and injured lens. In the present investigation, we have examined the presence, distribution, and possible role of arylsulfatases (E.C. 3.1.6.1) in lenses of normal and galactose-fed rats. Arylsulfatases were localized in lenses using the cytochemical procedure described by Hopsu-Havu and Helminen (1974) using p-nitrocatechol sulfate as a substrate and then examined at the ultrastructural level. The reaction product resulting from arylsulfatase activity was mainly localized in the epithelial cells with very little activity in the cortical fibers. The intracellular activity was confined to lysosomes. Some extracellular activity was visible in the intercellular regions in both the epithelium and superficial cortex. With the progression of galactose-induced lesion in the epithelium the number of lysosomes exhibiting enzyme reaction product was found to have increased, and the lysosomes closely abutted the capsule. The biochemical assay indicated a considerable increase in the activity of arylsulfatases with the continuation of a galactose diet. The possible role of arylsulfatases in the normal and cataractous lens is discussed.

Cytochemical localization of arylsulfatase B in rat basophils and mast cells

Basophils and mast cells possess large metachromatically staining granules which contain sulfated glycosaminoglycans as well as vasoactive compounds. To determine whether these granules might also have lysosomal properties, we used electron microscopy and cytochemistry to localize arylsulfatase B in rat basophils and mast cells. In basophils of bone marrow, enzymatic reaction product was consistently seen in many, but not all, of the basophil granules. In some cells, the enzyme could also be demonstrated in the Golgi region, restricted to a single cisterna and small vesicles. It was never seen in rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), although the paucity of cells made adequate sampling difficult. In mast cells of bone marrow and the peritoneal cavity, enzymatic reaction product was consistently found in some cytoplasmic granules of varying sizes and shapes where it characteristically rimmed the periphery of the granule just beneath the limiting membrane. It should be emphasized, however, that the majority of granules were not reactive. Reaction product could also be found occasionally in segments of RER, and in the Golgi region with a distribution similar to that of the basophil. The presence of lysosomal arylsulfatase in granules of developing basophils in bone marrow suggests that some basophil granules, like those of neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes are primary lysosomes. Some mast cell granules also contain this lysosomal enzyme, although it is not clear from the present data whether these granules are primary or secondary lysosomes.

[Demonstration of arylsulfatase A deficiency in metachromatic leukodystrophy and prenatal diagnosis of the disease]

Biochemical diagnosis of two cases of metachromatic leukodystrophy /hereditary disease was carried out by means of detection of arylsulfatase A deficiency in leukocytes of impaired children. Prenatal diagnosis of metachromatic leukodystrophy was first performed using estimation of the arylsulfatase A activity in bioptic samples of chorion in 8 week pregnancy. Development of the healthy fetus was diagnosed on the basis of detection of the normal enzymatic activity in the chorion of pregnant woman which had earlier two children with metachromatic leukodystrophy. This conclusion was confirmed by analysis of the fetal tissues in which the normal arylsulfatase A activity was found.

The 4-methylumbelliferone sulphate sulphatases of human tears

The properties of human tear 4-methylumbelliferone sulphate sulphatase (EC 3.1.6.1) have been investigated. More than 80% of the enzyme activity behaved as the acidic A isoenzyme on isoelectric focusing and DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography. The distribution of enzyme activity in a normal population has been investigated. The least interindividual variation was seen when enzyme activities were calculated as units per mg tears. The alpha-galactosidase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and sulphatase enzyme activities in human tears varied independently of each other. The use of tear sulphatases for the detection of metachromatic leukodystrophy (McKusick 24980) is discussed.