[Changes in ATPase activity in tissues and mitochondria of some steroid-producing rat organs during autolysis]

The activity of Mg(2+)-ATPase was studied in the tissues, homogenates, specimens of rat spermatic and adrenal glands during postmortem autolysis. The initial enzymatic activity was 2-fold higher in adrenal tissue, homogenate and mitochondria than in spermatic ones. As autolysis proceeded in the tissue and homogenate of the adrenal and spermatic glands, and spermatic mitochondria, the ATPase activity was drastically decreased, by disappearing completely at hour 24 of autolysis. At the same time, the enzyme from adrenal mitochondria exhibited a higher stability. Of great importance for this can be rearrangements in the phospholipid profile of the corresponding membranous structures, as well as hormonal factors.