L-leucyl beta-naphtylamidase activity and differentiation of adult human prostate.

The histochemical method for the demonstration of the L-leucyl-beta-naphtylamidase (LNAase) activity has been applied to bioptic and autoptic human prostates from very early to adult age to evaluate any correlation between sexual maturity and the appearance of this enzyme. The histochemical results indicate that in the human prostate, the LNAase activity is present at a cellular level in intrauterine life, infancy, and adulthood. This suggests that the appearance of this enzyme is genetically controlled even if different hormonal stimuli play some role in its localization and distribution.