Glycosidases in Some Farm Animals

Abstract

IT has been shown that the rat epididymis is the richest known source of α-mannosidase, β-galactosidase and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase¹, whereas the female rat preputial gland is the richest source of β-glucuronidase^,2,3. The possibility that the corresponding tissues in large farm animals might be convenient sources of these enzymes was considered. Unfortunately, the ewe, cow and sow lack any gland resembling the female rat preputial gland. The distribution of the four simple glycosidases in ram, bull and boar epididymis is shown in Table 1. For purposes of comparison, the activities in testis were determined, and earlier rat figures are also quoted. The same assay methods as before were employed¹. Because of the well-known association of β-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase with hyaluronidase in the testis, parallel measurements of the latter enzyme were carried out turbidimetrically⁴.