title: Rat parotid gland amylase: evidence for alterations in an exocrine protein with increased age.
abstract: The content of alpha-amylase, the major exocrine secretory protein from rat parotid glands, was studied in young adult and aged rat tissue. alpha-Amylase protein was determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. This employed antisera, produced against alpha-amylase purified from young adult rats, but which recognized and precipitated alpha-amylase enzyme activity equally well from both age groups. The parotid gland content of alpha-amylase was reduced about 50% in aged rats. Furthermore, the percentage of total gland protein which was alpha-amylase was decreased about 40% in aged animals. The data suggest that a somewhat specific alteration in alpha-amylase production (synthesis and/or degradation) occurs in parotid glands from aged rats. In addition, alpha-amylase functional activity was followed. The specific enzyme activity (U amylase activity per mg immunoreactive amylase) was about 35% higher in extracts from aged rat parotid glands compared to that of young adult glands.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000681:Amylases / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000201:enzymology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D000681:Amylases