Influence of methylprednisolone of the sequential redistribution of cathepsin D and other lysosomal enzymes during myocardial ischemia in rabbits.

Occlusion of the circumflex coronary artery induced a profound redistribution in ischemic rabbit myocardium of several lysosomal acid hydrolases, including cathepsin D, B-acetylglycosaminidase, and acid phosphatase. 30-45 min after ligation non-sedimentable cathepsin D activity rose from 36% of the total activity to 42-48%, and in immunohistochemical preparations cathepsin D appeared to have diffused from lysosomes into the cytosol of injured cells. A pharmacologic dose of methylprednisolone (50mg/kg) significantly delayed the subcellular redistribution of cathepsin D and the other hydrolases in ischemic heart. Thus, in treated hearts the nonsedimentable activity of cathepsin D rose to only 38% after 30 min of ischemia and 42% after 45 min (P is less than 0.05 compared to untreated ischemia at each time). Similarly, unlike untreated hearts, noevidence of enzyme diffusion from lysosomes could be demonstrated immunohistochemically in corticosteroid-treated ischemic hearts for over 45 min. After 1-2 h of ischemia, however, steroid-protected myocytes deteriorated and the biochemical activity and anatomical distribution of cathepsin D were indistinguishable from untreated ischemic hearts. This study demonstrates that corticosteroid pretreatment does not prevent alterations in cardiac lysosomes during severe ischemia indefinitely, but does delay their development significantly.