Kinetics of in vivo inhibition of tissue cathepsin D by pepstatin A

1. We have investigated the kinetics of inhibition of cathepsin D in heart, liver and skeletal muscle of CD-1 mice following administration of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg i.p. of pepstatin A, a specific inhibitor of this protease. 2. In the liver, a significant inhibition of cathepsin D occurred up to at least 15 days, whereas, in heart and skeletal muscle, this inhibition lasted for a much shorter period of time. 3. These results show that the recovery of enzyme activity to normal values is dose-dependent and that, at the same dose level, marked differences occur in the recovery of enzyme activity in these organ tissues, the liver being the most sensitive one.