Lysosomal N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase activities from arterial wall. Variations with aging.

Properties of two hydrolases: beta-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase were studied in lysosomal fractions of media-intima from arterial wall. These enzymatic activities change significantly with aging. In the arterial wall, the decrease in activities of beta-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase between young and old rats was highly significant while there no notable change in the activities of acid phosphatase. These data are in agreement with the metabolic slow-down and the modifications of the glycosaminoglycan distribution in the media-intima of arterial wall with aging.