Increased levels of several lysosomal enzymes in sera from women using oral contraceptives.

The activities of eight lysosomal enzymes were measured by spectrophotometric/spectrofluorimetric techniques in the blood sera of 19-24 apparently healthy women using an oral contraceptive (progestin and oestradiol synthetic derivative, desogestrel+ethinyloestradiol) in comparison with 15-16 non-pregnant women not using contraceptives (controls), in a randomised, double-blind, controlled study. beta-Glucuronidase and arylesterase showed statistically increased activities (P < or = 0.05) in the experimental group in comparison to the controls. No significant differences were found for the remaining enzymes assayed (beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase, alpha-L-fucosidase, alpha-mannosidase, beta-galactosidase, alpha-galactosidase and acid phosphatase). Similar results were obtained when the contraceptive formed by the combination of levonorgestrel and ethinyloestradiol was used by an experimental group of eight healthy women. These results suggest that the significant increases in the above-mentioned activities might be the physiological response of the organism (through catabolic processes catalysed by lysosomal enzymes) to the administration of exogenous synthetic compounds, such as the oral contraceptives used.

Variation in serum arylesterase, beta-glucuronidase, cathepsin L and plasminogen activators during pregnancy.

To determine whether the activities of certain hydrolases (arylesterase, beta-glucuronidase, cathepsin L, plasminogen activators, arginase, glutaminase, asparaginase and adenosine deaminase) are changed during pregnancy, three groups of 15 apparently healthy women (aged 18-38 years) in their first, second and third trimester of pregnancy were compared to a control group formed of 15 non-pregnant women of similar ages. Enzyme and specific activities gradually increased from the first to the end of the third trimester of pregnancy for arylesterase and beta-glucuronidase, these increases being statistically significant (P < 0.01) in comparison to controls. However, as regards cathepsin L and plasminogen activators, the greatest increase was found in the second trimester. Arginase, glutaminase and asparaginase activities were very low and not distinguishable from the controls. In conclusion, differences in the activities of several hydrolases have been found in the sera of healthy pregnant women in comparison to controls.

Glycosidase activities in sera from convalescent patients who ingested a toxic oil.

Some glycosidase activities have been determined in blood sera from 21 patients who ingested a toxic oil (rapeseed oil denatured with aniline(s) and treated by a thermal process). The samples were collected from the same patients on 3 or 4 occasions during a period of 11-12 mth. During this period, the clinical state of the patients improved and, generally, they were restored to health. beta-N-Acetylglucosaminidase, alpha-L-fucosidase, beta-D-glucuronidase, beta-D-glucosidase and alpha-D-mannosidase activities, which were higher in patients than in 17 controls during the first mth decreased to normal values in the period studied, 11-12 mth. In contrast, beta-D-galactosidase, alpha-D-galactosidase and alpha-D-glucosidase activities, which were initially lower in patients than in controls, were finally similar or higher than in controls. One explanation for these results could be the possible alteration of the cell membrane(s) by the toxic substance(s).

Hydrolytic enzyme activities, mainly from lysosomal localization, in sera from patients who ingested a toxic oil.

Some hydrolytic enzyme activities, mainly typical of lysosomal localization, have been determined in blood sera from patients who ingested a rapeseed oil (denatured with anilines and treated by a thermal process), and in healthy subjects. beta-N-Acetylglucosaminidase, beta-D-glucosidase, beta-D-glucuronidase, alpha-L-fucosidase and leucine aminopeptidase activities were significantly higher when compared with controls (p less than 0.001); higher activities but not significant (p less than 0.2) differences were found for alpha-D-mannosidase and alkaline phosphatase. In contrast, beta-D-galactosidase, alpha-D-galactosidase, acid phosphatase and lipase showed lower activities than controls. The significance of these results is discussed.