[Clinical and experimental histochemical studies on the activities of liver lysosomal enzymes and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP) (author's transl)].

The effects of acute and chronic administration of D-Galactosamine (GalN), Ethanol and Phenobarbital were investigated on the activities of lysosomal enzymes, i.e.; acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase and n-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, and others such as gamma-GTP and adenosine triphosphatase. The histochemical distribution of gamma-GTP in the liver was also studied on biopsy specimens from patients with chronic hepatitis, and gamma-GTP levels in the serum of patients receiving drugs inductable of hepatic microsomal enzymes. 1) After a single intraperitoneal injection of GalN, the lysosomal enzyme activities were lowered in the necrotic areas, but raised in the perinecrotic areas, the proliferative Kupffer cells and intra- and/or extra-cellular eosine bodies. 2) gamma-GTP activities in rat liver after chronic administration of GalN were markedly increased in bile canalicular membrane of periportal parenchymal cells, the epithelium of bile duct and ductules, and som inflammatory cells of portal fields. Levels of serum gamma-GTP were also elevated. On histochemical studies with biopsy specimens from patients with chronic active hepatitis showing elevated gamma-GTP activity, the activity was revealed a similar localization to GalN-treated rats. These data suggested that the increased activities might be reflected on the active stage in chronic hepatitis. 3) Chronic ethanol treatment in rats induced clearly-stained lysosomes varied in size, especially large-sized. The activities of hepatic gamma-GTP were slightly increased in the bile canalicular membrane of periportal parenchymal cells and the epithelium of proliferative bile ductules. 4) It has been shown by histochemical and biochemical techniques that hepatic gamma-GTP activity was increased after phenobarbital administration in rats. A significant rise in serum gamma-GTP was observed in patients on long-term treatment with anti-epileptic drugs. These data indicated that the increased activities of serum gamma-GTP might be accompanied with induction of hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes.