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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 1992; 99(2): 64-67
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1211135
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© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Cyclic Changes of Exopeptidase Activities in the Rat Brain: a Regional Study

J. M. de Gandarias, E. Echevarría, J. Irazusta, L. Casis
  • Department of Physiology, Medical School, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao/Spain
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Publication History

1991

Publication Date:
15 July 2009 (online)

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Summary

The present report describes the activity of three neuropeptide-degrading enzymes, in 12 brain areas during the estrous cycle of Sprague-Dawley rats. The quantitation of the enzyme activities was performed by measuring the rate of hydrolysis of the chromogenic substrates Leu-, Lys- and Asp-2-naphthylamides, by neutral, basic and acid aminopeptidase (AP) activities, respectively. Lys- and Leu-AP activities show a significant increase during the proestrus stage in the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. Also there is a significant increase of Leu-AP activity in the occipital cortex. No significant decreases for Asp-AP activity during the proestrus in the hypothalamus and the pituitary were observed. As the changes seem to be limited at the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, these findings could be interpreted to mean that these exopeptidase activities play a role in the hormonal changes that take place during the estrous cycle of the rat.

Key words

Rat brain - Aminopeptidase activity - Estrous cycle

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