The Localization of 3beta-hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase/Delta5-Delta4 isomerase in the Cardiovascular System of Rats / 대한해부학회지

ABSTRACT

The enzyme complex 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) is involed in the biosynthesis of all classes of active steroids. It has been known that the enzymatic activity of 3beta-HSD is present not only in the classical steroido-genic tissues, but also in many peripheral tissues. This study was performed to investigated of 3beta-HSD immunore-activity in the rat cardiovascular tissues such as the ventricle, atrium, aortic arch, and abdominal aorta. Immunoblot analyses and immunohistochemical studies were performed using polyclonal antibodies raised against purified human placental 3beta-HSD. We identified 43 and 37KDa bands in the ventricle and atrum, whereas only 37KDa band was observed in the aortic arch and abdominal aorta. Immunostaining for 3beta-HSD was detected in the ventricular and atrial cardiocytes. The intensity of staining was much higher in the atrial cardiocytes than in the ventricular cardiocytes. Immunostaining was also found in the smooth muscles of aortic arch and abdominal aorta.