Temporary changes of arylsulphatase activity in liver after exposure of AET or MEA pre-treated mice to 60Co gamma-irradiation.

The adult male Swiss mice were either whole-body 60Co gamma-irradiated with a single dose of 10 Gy at 1900, or treated intraperitoneally with AET (2-aminoethylisothiouronium bromide hydrobromide) or MEA (cysteamine hydrochloride), in a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight, 15 minutes before irradiation. The measurements of the arylsulphatase (E.C. 3.1.6.1) activity in crude homogenate of liver were done every four hours during 24-hour period, starting at 2000. The enzyme activity towards the artificial substrate p-nitrocatechol sulphate was related to 1 mg of protein, 1 g of fresh tissue and to the whole organ weight. No fluctuations in the activity of arylsulphatase in the control mice were found. There were temporary changes in the enzyme activity expressed in nkat per 1 mg of protein and 1 g of fresh tissue in the irradiated only males, in that related to 1 g of fresh tissue and the whole organ weight in mice injected with AET before irradiation, as well as that calculated in nkat per 1 mg of protein in animals pre-treated with MEA to exposure of gamma rays. Between the particular groups of males, differences in the arylsulphatase activity related to 1 g of fresh tissue and the whole liver weight at 0400 were only observed. 60Co gamma-irradiation influenced the activity of arylsulphatase in liver. AET and MEA modified the effect of exposure of mice to gamma rays on the enzyme activity in a different way.