The activity of lysosomal enzymes in visual cortex of rabbits during experimental diabetes.

The activity of all principal groups of lysosomal enzymes (acid phosphatase, lipase, beta-galactosidase, sulphatase and cathepsin B) was measured in the visual cortex of rabbits with experimental diabetes. In the first stage of diabetes (21 days), it was observed that enzyme activities in the free fraction and in the membrane-bound fraction are decreased as compared to the initial values determined in healthy animals. In the later stages of diabetes (90-180 days), all lysosomal enzyme activities increased except for sulphatase. This indicated a superiority of catabolic processes in visual cortex cells in the course of experimental diabetes.