Levels and subcellular distributions of detoxifying enzymes in the ovarian corpus luteum of the pregnant and non-pregnant pig

Abstract

The levels and subcellular distribution of enzymes involved in defenses against reactive oxygen superoxide dismutase (SOD; E.C.1.15.1.1), glutathione peroxidase (GPX; E.C.1.11.1.9), catalase (CAT; E.C.1.11.1.6), and DT-diaphorase (DT; E.C.1.6.99.2) and of the conjugating enzymes glutathione transferase (GST; E.C.2.5.1.18) and p-sulphotransferase ( p-ST; E.C.2.8.2.1) in the corpus luteum of ovaries from pregnant and non-pregnant pigs were investigated. In addition, non-protein thiols and glutathione reductase (GRD; E.C.1.6.4.2) were examined in the same manner. The total cytosolic activities of CAT, DT, GRD, and p-ST were significantly increased, whereas total GST activity was decreased in the pregnant corpus luteum compared to the corresponding activities in non-pregnant corpus luteum. In the case of the mitochondrial fraction from pregnant corpus luteum, GPX and GRD displayed significant increases in specific activity. Upon subfractionation of the mitochondrial fraction (i.e. mitoplast preparation), SOD activity was distributed equally between the mitoplasts and the supernatant. CAT and GPX activities were mainly recovered in the supernatant, while the major GRD activity pelleted with the mitoplasts. Microsomes from pregnant corpus luteum demonstrated increased specific GPX activity and decreased SOD activity compared to the non-pregnant corpus luteum. No differences in the non-protein thiol levels in the cytosolic, mitochondrial, or microsomal fractions from the corpus luteum were observed between non-pregnant and pregnant sows.