Influence of emotional-algic stress on the activity of carboxypeptidase H--an enzyme involved in processing rat brain neuropeptides.

It was established that the activity of carboxypeptidase H increases in divisions of the brain of rats during a one-time emotional-algic stress. The most substantial increase in the activity of the enzyme is observed in the hypophysis and the hypothalamus. The changes in activity were less marked with chronic emotional-algic stress. The involvement of carboxypeptidase H in the development of stress reactions, as well as the possibility of the participation of the soluble form of the enzyme in the processing of secretory peptides, and of the membrane-bound form in the processing of neuropeptides with a central action, is hypothesized.