Activity of some lysosomal hydrolases in the homogenates of transplantable melanotic and amelanotic melanoma in golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus, Waterhouse).

Activity of arylsulphatase, beta-glucuronidase, cathepsin D, and acid phosphatase in the homogenates of melanotic and amelanotic melanoma was determined. The activity of these enzymes is higher in melanotic than in amelanotic melanoma. Respective values for melanotic and amelanotic tumours are: arylsulphatase 10,78 +/- 3,20, and 1,45 +/- 0,66 micron 4-nitrocatechole/mg protein/hr; beta-glucuronidase 11,10 +/- 1,40, and 9,98 +/- 1,35 micron phenolphthalein/mg protein/hr; cathepsin D 4,24 +/- 1,37, and 3,26 +/- 0,73 micron tyrosine/mg protein/hr; acid phosphatase 230 +/- 22, and 180 +/- 25 micron p-nitrophenol/mg protein/hr. These differences are statistically significant. The increased activity of the lysosomal enzymes in melantoic melanoma probably depends on the occurrence of an higher number of lysosomes in tissues containing melanins.