Genetic control of developmental patterns of cerebral enzyme activities: further differences between C3H and ICR strains of mice.

We have investigated developmental changes in activity for five enzymes associated with different cerebral metabolic systems in two separate strains of mice. The enzymes studied were acid beta-galactosidase, arylsulfatase A, cerebroside beta-galactosidase, cerebroside sulfotransferase, and glutamate decarboxylase. The two strains of mice were C3H/SWV and ICR/SWV. We confirm the experiments of Meisler, Paigen, and colleagues showing higher acid beta-galactosidase activity throughout development in C3H mice. In addition we have demonstrated higher arylsulfatase A activity throughout development in C3H mice. The shape of the developmental curve for arylsulfatase A activity in brain in the two strains was similar. There were no differences in developmental changes of activity between the two strains for the other three enzymes studied.