title: Aminopeptidase activity levels during axonal and dendritic growth in the rat brain.
abstract: Brain aminopeptidase activity has been suggested as a candidate for the regulation and biotransformation of several neuropeptides. In this paper, changes in Lys- and Leu-aminopeptidase activities in rat brain hemispheres, cerebellum and medulla were examined in 1-, 3-, 5- and 7-days postnatal subjects. Aminopeptidase activities were studied by measuring the rate of hydrolysis of the artificial chromogenic substrates Lys- and Leu-2-naphthylamides (fluorimetrically detected in triplicate). Both enzyme activities show a decrease on the 3rd day of life followed by increases on the 5th and 7th day postbirth. It is suggested that these activities could play a part in the neurochemical changes that take place during axonal and dendritic growth in the rat brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical School, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Gandarias
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Irazusta
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Echevarría
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: San Martín
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Casis
mesh_terms: D000626:Aminopeptidases / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D003712:Dendrites; D007930:Leucine / Q000378:metabolism; D008239:Lysine / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000626:Aminopeptidases; D007930:Leucine; D008239:Lysine