Comparison of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in tissues of normal and dystrophic hamsters and mice.

The activity of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT), a membrane-bound enzyme, was assayed by a sensitive fluorometric method in the brain, heart, kidney, liver, skeletal muscle and serum of normal and dystrophic hamsters and mice. Normal and dystrophic hamsters were of the golden brown and BIO 14.6 line respectively. Both normal and dystrophic mice were of the C57 BL/6J -dy2j strain. Kidneys of both hamsters and mice contained the highest enzyme activity followed by the brain, skeletal muscle, liver and heart. Gamma-GT activity was elevated in dystrophic skeletal muscles but decreased in the dystrophic kidneys and sera. In the brain, heart and liver of dystrophic animals from both species enzyme activity was similar to that in normals.