Activity of lysosomal enzymes in white muscle disease

Lysosomal enzymes and vitamin E deficiency. I. Muscular dystrophy, encephalomalacia and exudative diathesis in the chick

1. The activities of several lysosomal hydrolases were measured in the tissues of chicks suffering from nutritional muscular dystrophy, encephalomalacia or exudative diathesis.

2. In dystrophic breast muscle, β-glucuronidase was raised five- to six-fold, cathepsin fourfold and acid phosphatase 1.5-fold. No change was found in the subcellular distribution of β-glucuronidase.

3. Chicks with encephalomalacia showed no changes in the β-glucuronidase, β-galactosidase, acid phosphatase or β-acetylglucosaminase activities of cerebellum or brain. Subcellular distribution of β-glucuronidase and β-galactosidase in these tissues was also unchanged.

4. In exudative diathesis, hydrolases were found in the exudate, and there was increased activity in the subcutaneous tissue first showing haemorrhages. Increased hydrolytic activity was found in liver, spleen and kidney. Breast muscle was not always affected by the exudative condition, but, when it too degenerated, its hydrolase activity increased.

5. β-Glucuronidase activity was measured in the serums of chicks suffering from each of the three deficiency diseases. None of the diseases caused a rise in activity.