Activity of some lysosomal enzymes in adrenal cortex during experimental alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus in rabbits

The aim of the study was the evaluation of changes in the adrenal cortex lysosomal enzymes activity during experimental alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus in rabbits. We checked the activity of acid phosphatase, β-D-galactosidase, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAGL) and lipase. The study was performed on 124 rabbits divided into five groups: one control and four experimental. Diabetes mellitus was induced by a single injection of 10% alloxan solution into the auricular vein in a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight. Animals from experimental groups were killed in the 21st, 42nd, 90th and 180th days of the study. Adrenal glands were removed. Enzymes activity was assayed by spectrophotometric methods. Changes in free and bound fractions of examined lysosomal enzymes activity were noticed already in the 21st day of diabetes. The most escalated changes were observed in the 42nd day of the study. Performed statistical variance analysis demonstrated statistically highly significant differences for activity of both fractions of NAGL and lipase, as well as for free fraction activity of acid phosphatase and β-D-galactosidase. The obtained data confirmed the influence of diabetes mellitus on changes in the activity of examined lysosomal enzymes in the adrenal cortex.