title: Aminopeptidases in the gonads of male and female rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relative importance of soluble (Sol) and membrane-bound (M-B) components of aminopeptidase (AP) activities in local functions of male and female gonads.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats in the proestrous phase of the estrous cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples from the right testis and the whole right ovary were dissected after perfusion with saline. The Sol and M-B fractions were obtained from these samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fluorometric measurement of Sol and M-B AP activities using arylamide derivatives as substrates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Highly significant differences between male and female gonads were observed. Sol AP activities showed a significant predominance in testes, whereas M-B AP activities were significantly higher in ovaries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a discrepancy in the distribution of Sol and M-B AP activities between male and female gonads, which may imply a direct participation of sex steroids in AP activities. These results may reflect the relative importance of these enzymes in the testis and ovary and should be taken into account in evaluating the functional role of peptides locally produced in gonads.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Physiology, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: Garbiñe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arechaga
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Expósito
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Gasparo
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Martínez-Martos
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramírez
mesh_terms: D000626:Aminopeptidases / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000201:enzymology*; D011359:Proestrus; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D000626:Aminopeptidases