THE EFFECT OF GLUCOCORTICOIDS ON THE ACTIVITY OF MONOAMINE-OXIDASE AND SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE IN THE BAT INTERSCAPULAR BROWN ADIPOSE-TISSUE

The effect of dexamethasone (DEX) and corticosterone (COR) on the acti vity of monoamine oxidase (MAO), copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZ n SOD) and manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD) in the rat intersca pular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) were studied. DEX (1 mg/kg, i.p. for two days) significantly increased MAO activity in the IBAT as compare d to the corresponding controls. On the contrary, COR, in the correspo nding dose (5 mg/kg), did not affect MAO activity in the IBAT. DEX als o markedly enhanced the activity of both SODs in the tissue studied, w hile COR was ineffective. The results suggest that there exist the dif ferences in the effect between the synthetic glucocorticoid, such as D EX, and COR, which is a natural glucocorticoid in the rat, on the acti vity of IBAT enzymes studied.