Lysosomal enzymes in experimental diabetic cardiomyopathy

The present study examines the role of cardiac lysosomal enzymes in the pathogenesis of the cardiomyopathy that develops in genetically diabetic C57BL/KsJ db+/db+ mice. Db+/db+ mice and littermate controls were sacrificed as age-matched pairs between 5-26 weeks of age. C57BL/6J ob/ob mice and littermates served as other controls. The hearts were excised, homogenized, and the following enzymatic activities measured: N-Acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, N-acetyl-beta-galactosaminidase, beta-glucosaminidase, aryl sulphatase, alpha-mannosidase, alpha-glucosidase, beta-galactosidase, beta glucosidase, total p-nitrophenyl phosphatase, acid phosphatase and 5'-phosphodiesterase type IV. There is a progressive decrease in cardiac lysosomal enzyme activities of db+/db+ mice for the period 5-21 weeks of age. All enzyme activity is depressed significantly during the 9-21 week interval with beta-glucuronidase, aryl sulphatase and beta-glucosidase decreased about 40-50%. The decrease in lysosomal enzyme activity can explain the accumulation of large residual bodies and interstitial material in the myocardium of the db+/db+ animals