Tissue distribution and multiplicity of enzymes that generate and scavengereactive oxygen species in Japanese monkey

Five enzymes involved in the generation and scavenging of reactive oxygen s pecies, i.e., NADH/NADPH oxidase, xanthine oxidase (XOD), superoxide dismut ase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase were assayed in various tissu es of the Japanese monkey. Their activities were largely different between tissues. Generally, small intestine, kidney, and cerebellum contained large r amounts of these enzymes than other tissues. Multiplicities of these enzy mes were analyzed by staining of their enzymatic activities after electroph oresis. The number of isozymes was 2 in the case of NADPH oxidase and catal ase, and 3 in the case of XOD, SOD, and ascorbate peroxidase. The expressio n of these isozymes differed between tissues, suggesting the occurrence of tissue-specific systems to generate and scavenge reactive oxygen species in the Japanese monkey.