CHARACTERIZATION OF RAT LIVER AND KIDNEY ESTERASES

Abstract
Vertical zone electrophoresis in starch gel was employed in conjunction with various histochemical techniques to characterize the liver and kidney esterases of male and female rats. Tissue-specific patterns were observed for each organ and a sex-dependent difference was noted on electrophoretic separation of the liver extracts. On the basis of substrate specificity and inhibitor sensitivity, both organs were observed to contain similar nonspecific aliesterases or carboxylesterases (EC 3.1.1.1). Inhibition studies showed the presence of two types of aliesterase in the liver and kidney extracts.