Fate of alpha-1,4-glucosidases and cathepsin D in the rat epididymis after vasectomy.
Short-term vasectomy was studied in adult male rats in order to ascertain whether cytosolic or lysosomal hydrolases were differently affected 100 days after vas ligation. The secretory form of alpha-1,4-glucosidase remained unchanged while the lysosomal form of the enzyme and also cathepsin D increased in the cytosol of both caput and cauda epididymis. This set of data demonstrates for the first time that a triggering mechanism which stimulates lysosomal activity is present all along the rat epididymis. Disposal of the continuous influx of spermatozoa from the testis could therefore require both an active and a passive process.
Marchand
L
L
Hormonal Bioregulation Laboratory, Laval University Hospital Research Center, Laval University, Ste-Foy, Canada.
Frenette
G
G
Tremblay
R R
RR
D000818:Animals; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000378:metabolism*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000201:enzymology; D004822:Epididymis / Q000201:enzymology*; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D014659:Vasectomy; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases / Q000378:metabolism*
D000520:alpha-Glucosidases; D002402:Cathepsin D