Lysosomal hydrolases of the eye tissues and the effect of corticosteroids on their activity

Activity of lysosomal glycosidases in ciliary body, aqueous humour and vitreous body, as well as the distribution of these enzymes in subcellular fractions of ciliaryBody have been studied to cause a decrease in hyaluronidase activity after intraperitoneal injection of steroids.

Abstract

Abstract Activity of lysosomal glycosidases (β-glucosidase, β-galactosidase, hyaluronidase) in ciliary body, aqueous humour and vitreous body, as well as the distribution of these enzymes in subcellular fractions of ciliary body, have been studied. The presence of β-glucosidase, β-galactosidase and hyaluronidase was shown in ciliary body; hyaluronidase was present in the aqueous humour, while no glycosidase activity was detected in the vitreous body of control animals. One hour after intraperitoneal injection of corticosteroids (hydrocortisone and deoxycorticosterone acetate) a decrease of glycosidase activity in ciliary body and aqueous humour was observed, and hyaluronidase appeared in the vitreous body. In vitro, the steroids caused a decrease of hyaluronidase activity in the ciliary body and aqueous humour, though no hyaluronidase activity was detected in the vitreous body, as under normal conditions. In that case hydrocortisone brought about stabilization of the lysosomal membranes of the ciliary body, while deoxycorticosterone acetate made them labile.