Activities and androgenic regulation of lysosomal enzymes in the epididymis of rhesus monkey.

The activities and androgenic regulation of seven lysosomal enzymes viz. acid phosphatase, N-acetyl hexosaminidase, alpha-mannosidase, beta-glucuronidase, DNase II, RNase II and phospholipase A was established in caput, corpus and cauda segments of monkey epididymis. Estimation of enzyme activities in the the epididymis of control, castrated and castrated-androgen replaced monkeys revealed that all the enzymes except RNase II showed higher activity in caput and corpus as compared to cauda. The enzymes were reduced markedly after castration and on subsequent androgen replacement there was a significant stimulation of the repressed activities, but the control levels were not restored. RNase II showed highest activity in cauda which was further elevated after castration. The possible role of these enzymes in sperm maturation and disposal is discussed.