Plasma membrane proteases as useful tool in histochemical toxicology

Compared with mitochondrial, lysosomal and endoplasmic reticulum enzymes and plasma membrane-associated hydrolases plasma membrane-linked proteases in the rat thyroid gland, liver, kidney, placenta and yolk sac were more easily affected after the administration of the drugs salicylic acid and dexamethasone. Either a decrease or an increase of protease activity was observed in the surface membrane of capillary endothelial cells, hepatocytes, fetal placental cells and visceral yolk sac epithelial cells whereby proteases being localized in the same domain of the plasma membrane showed a different response.