Increased lysosomal enzyme activities in tissues of rats suffering from chlorphentermine induced lipidosis.

The activities of four lysosomal enzymes, β-d-glucuronidase, β-d-galactosidase, α-d-mannosidase and acid phosphatase, were determined in tissue homogenates of rats suffering from drug-induced lipidosis. The lysosomal storage disease was produced by daily oral administration of 30–40 mg chlorphentermine/kg b.wt. for 12 weeks. The enzyme activities were found either increased or unchanged. A rise of about 2.5 fold was displayed by the β-d-glucuronidase in liver and kidneys and of 1.85 fold by the α-d-mannosidase in kidneys. The activity of the acid phosphatase was only slightly enhanced in the adrenals. The finding that a drug-induced lysosomal lipid storage is accompanied by an increase of some enzyme activities, corresponds to observations made on human cases of inherited storage diseases, and to experimental results obtained by overloading lysosomes with exogeneous material.