Cathepsin D activity in the intestinal wall in experimental untreated hemorrhagic shock.

The total cathepsin D activities in the intestinal wall and in venous mesenteric and arterial systemic blood were investigated on the rats in untreated hemorrhagic shock lasting 60 minutes. We observed a decrease in cathepsin D activity in homogenates of respective segments of small and large bowels and an increase in the enzyme activity in blood serum of both origin. The shock resulted in lowering protein concentration in the intestinal wall and its increase in the mesenteric blood. We found a negative correlation between cathepsin D activity in the intestinal wall and its morphological destruction. Molecules of the enzyme, after liberation from lysosomes due to hemorrhagic shock, are translocated to the circulation and probably to the gut lumen. Liberation of the intestinal cathepsin D may contribute to the local damage and multiorgan failure in hemorrhagic shock.