In vivo inhibition of beta-glucosidase and beta-mannosidase activity in rats by 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-beta-glycosyl fluorides and recovery of activity in vivo and in vitro.

2-Deoxy-2-fluoro-beta-glucosyl and -beta-mannosyl fluorides administered to rats in a single dose (10 mg/kg) inhibited beta-glucosidase and beta-mannosidase activity respectively after 1 h in brain, spleen, liver and kidney tissues. This inhibition, presumably caused by accumulation of 2-deoxy-2-fluoroglycosyl-enzyme intermediates, indicates that intact 2-deoxy-2-fluoroglycosyl fluorides are distributed to these organs and, in the case of brain, that they cross the blood/brain barrier. beta-Glucosidase activity recovered completely or partially in brain, spleen, liver and kidney by 20-48 h. beta-Mannosidase activity partially recovered in all tissues by 48 h. beta-Galactosidase activity in brain and kidney was not significantly affected by administration of either the gluco or manno compounds at this dosage, indicating that these inhibitors are directed towards specific glycosidases. Observation of similar relatively rapid rates of beta-glycosidase re-activation in vivo and in tissue homogenates in vitro at 37 degrees C suggests that hydrolysis or transglycosylation of 2-deoxy-2-fluoroglycosyl-enzymes, not protein synthesis, are the primary mechanisms involved in the recovery of glycosidase activity inhibited by this class of compounds in vivo.