Hormonal regulation of lysosomal hydrolases in the reproductive tract of the rabbit

The total protein content and the activities of lysosomal hydrolases (arylsulphatase, alkaline and acid phosphatases, beta-glucuronidase, beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase, alpha-L-fucosidase and beta-galactosidase) in the uteri of ovariectomized rabbits treated with different concentrations of progesterone, oestradiol-17 beta and a combination of progesterone and oestradiol were determined. The enzyme activities were also measured in the reproductive organs of rabbits induced to superovulate by PMSG and hCG. In superovulated and steroid-treated rabbits, the changes in lysosomal hydrolases were more obvious in the endometrium than the myometrium. Except for the myometrial alkaline phosphatase and beta-galactosidase and the endometrial alkaline phosphatase, there were no significant changes in the solubilities of hydrolases after treatment with steroids. beta-Galactosidase levels were significantly higher in the ovariectomized rabbits treated with progesterone. An antagonistic effect of oestradiol and progesterone was observed with respect to uterine weight, protein content and enzyme activities in the ovariectomized rabbits treated simultaneously with oestradiol and progesterone.