Influence of age and cortisone treatment on two intestinal lysosomal hydrolases in young rats

The effects of cortisone acetate injected i.p. on acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase in the small intestine mucosa of two groups of rats aging 12-14 and 20-22 days are reported. The following results are obtained: a) Total and free activities of the two enzymes show age-dependent differences. b) Cortisone acetate causes a very marked decrease of the enzymic activities only in the younger rats while being ineffective on the older ones. c) The kinetics of the enzyme release at 37 degrees C appear independent either of age or of cortisone injection. d) The "in vitro" lysosome labilizing treatments are ineffective.