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Reproduction, Fertility and Development Reproduction, Fertility and Development Society
Vertebrate reproductive science and technology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Age-related changes in the soluble and the membrane-bound Tyr-aminopeptidase activities in several areas of the male and female rat brain

Gandarias JM de, J Irazusta, E Echevarria, J Gil and L Casis

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 8(3) 465 - 469
Published: 1996

Abstract

It has been recently suggested that enkephalins might play a normal role in the regulation of cellular development in brain. Since the major pathway of enkephalin degradation seems to occur under the action of aminopeptidases, in the present paper we describe the changes in Tyr-aminopeptidase activities during several stages of the rat (male and female) brain development (9, 12, 15, 20 and 25 days postbirth). The enzyme activities (soluble and membrane-bound) were detected using Tyr-2-naphthylamide as substrate. No sexual differences were observed. However, significant rises from the 9th to the 15th postnatal day in the soluble peptidase activity were appreciated. Aminopeptidase M shows decreases in the activity with age. It is suggested that not only the enkephalins but also the enkephalin-degrading enzymes could play a part in the maturation of the rat brain.

https://doi.org/10.1071/RD9960465

© CSIRO 1996

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