STUDIES OF ACID PHOSPHATASE AND NONSPECIFIC ESTERASE ACTIVITIES IN RAT ADRENAL GLANDS FOLLOWING OPERATIVE STRESS

Acid phosphatase and esterase activities were studied in adrenal glands obtained from rats killed at regular intervals following surgical stress (cauda equina transection). Zymograms of acid phosphatase produced by starch gel electrophoresis revealed increased reactivity in the operated samples. With esterases, a slightly different pattern was observed in the operated group, which exhibited a few additional bands particularly in the cathode region. This was confirmed by densitometric analysis of the gel strips. Two of these additional bands were organophosphate-sensitive and the remaining few were activated by p-chloromercuribenzoate. These latter bands appeared to arise from splitting of the preexisting organophosphate-resistant bands present in control zymograms. Biochemical assay of the two hydrolytic enzymes demonstrated a remarkable similarity in their responses to operative stress—probably implying a general lysosomal activation. Both enzymes exhibited a peak activity 8 hr after operation, followed by a gradual decline. Both organophosphate-sensitive and organophosphate-resistant esterases contributed toward the rise in total esterase activity. Histochemical studies on tissue sections revealed a more reactive adrenal cortex in the operated group, but were of little help in localizing the additional esterase activity observed in gel strips.