Regional brain distribution of cathepsin D activity: its inhibition in vivo following central infusion of pepstatin in the rat.

Tfhe regional distribution of cathepsin D activity was measured in 10 regiongs of rat brain. The greatest activity was found in the hypothalamo-pituitary axis and in regions surrounding the 4th ventricle. In rats injected centrally with the specific cathepsin D inhibitor, pepstatin, the protease activity was inhibited up to 90% in most brain regions.