Tissue distribution and multiplicity of enzymes that generate and scavenge reactive oxygen species in Japanese monkey

Abstract

Five enzymes involved in the generation and scavenging of reactive oxygen species, i.e., NADH/NADPH oxidase, xanthine oxidase (XOD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase were assayed in various tissues of the Japanese monkey. Their activities were largely different between tissues. Generally, small intestine, kidney, and cerebellum contained larger amounts of these enzymes than other tissues. Multiplicities of these enzymes were analyzed by staining of their enzymatic activities after electrophoresis. The number of isozymes was 2 in the case of NADPH oxidase and catalase, and 3 in the case of XOD, SOD, and ascorbate peroxidase. The expression of these isozymes differed between tissues, suggesting the occurrence of tissue-specific systems to generate and scavenge reactive oxygen species in the Japanese monkey.