title: Seasonal changes in angiotensin converting enzyme activity in male and female frogs (Rana esculenta).
abstract: Gonad, lung, kidney and serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activities were determined by specific substrate hydrolysis in male and female Rana esculenta over 1 year. Ovary ACE activity showed the highest values among the different tissues, with a significant peak (223+/-52 nmol min(-1) mg protein(-1)) in late winter-early spring. Testis ACE activity followed a significant seasonal cycle, increasing from September to peak in April (2.5+/-0.8 nmol min(-1) mg protein(-1)) and then decreased in the post-reproductive period. Lung and kidney ACE activities were not correlated with the annual reproductive cycle phases. In serum a peak of activity was present in the post-reproductive period both in male and female frogs. The present data show a correlation between ACE and the annual reproductive cycle of R. esculenta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cellular and Animal Biology, University of Camerini, Via F. Camerini, 2, I-62032 Camerino (MC), Italy. massimo.bramucci@unicam.it
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bramucci
authors.forename: Luana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quassinti
authors.forename: Ennio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maccari
authors.forename: Oretta
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Murri
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amici
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology; D008168:Lung / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000201:enzymology; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011893:Rana esculenta / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D012621:Seasons; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A