Developmental changes of glycosidase activities in rat renal cortex

The activities of beta-glucosidase as well as of alpha- and beta-galactosidase increase in the renal cortex of the rat during the early postnatal development. However, while the two galactosidases reach adult values around the end of the second week of life, beta-glucosidase activity exhibits a second steep increase after the third post-uterine week. This rise in activity correlates with the functional maturation of kidney and is confined nearly exclusively to the cytosolic isozyme. The effects of taurocholate, Triton X-100, and dexamethasone on beta-glucosidase isozymes were studied. The results suggest that taurocholate should be included in the assay medium for the measurement of the beta-glucocerebrosidase activity in the diagnosis of Gaucher's disease. For the determination of the total beta-glucosidase activity in samples containing mainly the lysosomal isozyme (perinatal kidney, isolated lysosomes) the use of Triton X-100 is recommended.