Activity of the glycosidases β-galactosidase, α-l-fucosidase, β-N-acetyl-hexosaminidase, and sialidase in uterine tissues from female dogs in diestrus with and without pyometra

Abstract This study aimed to compare the activity of selected glycosidases (β-galactosidase, α- l -fucosidase, β-N-acetyl-hexosaminidase, and sialidase) in homogenates of uterine tissues obtained from female dogs with and without pyometra. In addition, it examined the availability of substrates for these glycosidases in the homogenates. The study was carried out on female dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy for pyometra (n = 10) and clinically healthy dogs (n = 10) undergoing elective spaying. The activity of β-galactosidase, α- l -fucosidase, and β-N-acetyl-hexosaminidase was analyzed using a spectrofluorometer and that of sialidase using a colorimetric method. Sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with Alcian Blue (AB) and Periodic Acid–Schiff (PAS) staining was performed to determine the presence of substrates for these glycosidases in the homogenates of uterine tissues. The results revealed that the activity of all the examined glycosidases was significantly higher (P