Effects of cortisone and thyroxine on suckling rat liver N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase isozymes. Comparison with adult reactivity.

Suckling rat liver N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (hexosaminidase) activity undergoes considerable fluctuation during the first two weeks of life. As two major forms of hexosaminidase (A, heat-labile, and B, heat-stable) are known to exist in both human and adult rat liver, we choose to examine the effect of the maturative hormones, thyroxine and cortisone, upon these isozymes during the suckling period. Between days 7 and 15, the observed developmental change is attributable solely to an increase in the 'A-like' (heat-labile) form of the enzyme; an enhanced response is seen in thyroxine-injected 11-15-day old animals. The response may be considered 'age-independent', as adult animals react in the same manner. In contrast, cortisone-injected sucklings show a decrease in both A and B isozymes, while in adults no changes in total activity or isozyme distribution are evoked. The ratio of hexosaminidase A to hexosaminidase B in suckling rat liver appears to shift in favor of the labile (A) isozyme early in development.