Influence on plasma beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase of reticuloendothelial stimulation and depression: an experimental study in rats.

Plasma levels of the lysosomal enzyme, beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30; 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucoside acetamidodeoxyglucohydrolase ) were estimated 120 minutes after intravenous injection of zymosan in rats. Different groups of animals were investigated according to pretreatment with agents influencing reticuloendothelial activity. Pretreatment for two days with the reticuloendothelial stimulating agent, zymosan, or the reticuloendothelial suppressing agent, methyl palmitate, did not influence the basal plasma levels of beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase. In all groups after zymosan injection, plasma beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase activity was increased in comparison with basal levels. The increase of enzyme activity was most pronounced after pretreatment with zymosan and differed significantly from enzyme activity after pretreatment with methyl palmitate. Alcohol administration in combination with zymosan did not cause a further rise of beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase activity in normal rats nor in rats pretreated with zymosan. The observations suggest that plasma levels of beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase in rats after a standardized zymosan injection are related to the functional status of the reticuloendothelial system (RES).