Effects of dietary cholesterol on pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase activity in mouse frontal cortex, pituitary, and adrenal glands.
Pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase (pGluAP) is an omega peptidase that hydrolyzes biologically active peptides, such as thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), with neuronal and extraendocrine functions. We analyzed the effects of a cholesterol-enriched diet on soluble and membrane-bound pGluAP activity in frontal cortex, pituitary and adrenal glands of male and female mice using fluorimetric assays. Significant increases were observed in soluble pGluAP activity in the frontal cortex and adrenal glands in males and in the pituitary in females. Membrane-bound pGluAP activity was increased in the frontal cortex and pituitary of males and females after the mice were fed a cholesterol-enriched diet. These increases may produce changes in the metabolism of endogenous substrates, including TRH, which may be related to alterations in its neuromodulator functions and to the possible relationship between TRH and other neurotransmitter systems.
Ramírez-Expósito
M J
MJ
Unit of Physiology, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Experimental and Health Sciences, University of Jaén, Spain.
García
M J
MJ
Mayas
M D
MD
Carrera
M P
MP
Tsuboyama
G K
GK
Martínez-Martos
J M
JM
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D000626:Aminopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005470:Fluorometry; D005973:Glutamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008566:Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000378:metabolism; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000201:enzymology*; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D009281:Naphthalenes; C406183:pyroglutamyl-naphthylamide; D005973:Glutamine; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000626:Aminopeptidases; C023166:pyroglutamyl-peptidase II; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid