Activity and localisation of the lysosomal marker enzymes acid phosphatase, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, and beta-galactosidase in the earthwormsEisenia fetida and E-veneta

The present study describes the activity and localisation of three putative lysosomal marker enzymes, acid phosphatase (AP), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosami nidase (beta-NAG), and beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal), in whole individuals and in distinct parts of the earthworms, Eisenia veneta and Eisenia fetida. Activities of AP and beta-NAG were high in the two species with most of th e activity located to the anterior and mid-parts of the worms. The activity of beta-Gal was low in all body regions. We found interspecies difference in the AP activity as E. veneta had significantly higher activity of AP tha n E. fetida in posterior and mid-pelts, as well as in whole individuals. Of the three enzymes tested, AP was the only enzyme located to lysosomes, yie lding high latency all over the worms with especially high latency in the c oelomic fluids and posterior regions. The lysosomal APs in E. veneta and E. fetida may be utilised as a new biomarker for xenobiotic-induced lysosomal membrane damage in earthworms. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights r eserved.