An increase of cathepsin D activity in cardiac lymph and pericardial fluid induced by experimental myocardial ischemia in the dog

Abstract

Cathepsin D activity was measured in the cardiac lymph, pericardial fluid and plasma after ligation of the left coronary artery of the dog. The activity of cathepsin D increased both in the cardiac lymph and the pericardial fluid after the coronary ligation, while that in the plasma did not show any increase. In sham operated group, there was practically no change in the cathepsin D activity. The increase in the cathepsin D activity in the cardiac lymph and the pericardial fluid may indicate an increase in amount of myocardial lysosomal enzymes liberated into the interstitial space during myocardial ischemia.