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Regulation Of Cartilage Acid Hydrolases And Their Relationship To Skeletal Growth, John Richard Hubbard

Theses and Dissertations

The in vivo regulation of several acid hydrolases by growth hormone was investigated in an attempt to lend insight into the mechanism of growth hormone action. In addition, the relationship of these enzymes to age-dependent changes in skeletal growth rate was examined. Initial studies showed that hypophysectomy reduced the activity of an unknown cartilage protease, which was assayed by digestion of gelatin-membrane substrates at pH 4.0. Treatment of hypophysectomized rats with growth hormone enhanced this activity to about normal levels. The unidentified protease activity was also shown to be higher in younger, more rapidly growing rats, than in older, less …