Influence of isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction on certain glycohydrolases and cathepsins in rats.

The changes in the activities of certain lysosomal hydrolases, viz., beta-glucuronidase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, beta-galactosidase, beta-glucosidase, alpha-glucosidase, alpha-galactosidase, alpha-mannosidase, cathepsin B, cathepsin D, and collagenolytic cathepsin, in serum and heart of rats subject to myocardial infarction with isoproterenol, were studied during the periods of peak infarction and recovery. The activities of all the enzymes assayed exhibited a significant increase both in serum and in heart at peak infarction stage and these levels returned to normal during the stage of recovery and repair. The infiltration of inflammatory cells at the infarct regions and the altered lysosomal fragility are probably responsible for the increased activity of the enzymes studied. This may also bring about the catabolism of connective tissue constituents as reported in literature.