Calcium-dependent and calcium-independent proteinase activities were detected in extracts of rat ventral prostate and its secretion by use of gelatin-containing SDS-PAGE zymography. Ca(2+)-independent proteinase activities of 22, 26, and 73-79 kDa and Ca(2+)-dependent activities of 58, 63, and 66 kDa were found in the adult gland. The 26- (most intense activity of gland) and 22-kDa activities were present in secretion and were not expressed in the undifferentiated gland of the 10-day-old animal. The Ca(2+)-dependent activities were also present in the secretion, where the 63-kDa form was more prominently expressed than the 58- and 66-kDa bands. The Ca(2+)-dependent and Ca(2+)-independent proteinase activities both responded to a broad range of pH values in the incubation media. The 73-79-kDa Ca(2+)-independent activities were sensitive to benzamidine and the Ca(2+)-dependent activities were inhibited by EDTA and EGTA. Both Ca(2+)-dependent and Ca(2+)-independent proteinase activities responded to androgenic manipulations. Castration was followed by the appearance of a 35-kDa Ca(2+)-independent proteinase (at 2 days) and a 43-kDa Ca(2+)-dependent proteinase (at 4 days). In the Ca(2+)-independent proteinase group, the 73-79-kDa activities were increased somewhat and the 22- and 26-kDa activities decreased after castration. The Ca(2+)-dependent proteinases of 58, 63, and 66 kDa increased in activity with castration, but activity of the 58-kDa form decreased again at 7 days after castration. Treatment of animals upon castration for 4 days with hydrocortisone prevented these changes in proteinase activities whereas treatment with actinomycin D or tranexamic acid did not. Testosterone propionate replacement therapy of rats castrated for 16 days stimulated the activities of the 22- and 26-kDa and 73-79-kDa Ca(2+)-independent and the 58- and 63-kDa Ca(2+)-dependent proteinases with 4 days of therapy. The activities of the 35-kDa Ca(2+)-independent and the 43-kDa Ca(2+)-dependent proteinases were repressed with 8 days of testosterone treatment. Thus, individual proteinases show differential changes in activity during development and in response to androgenic manipulation: this suggests that in addition to proteinases which are secreted, others may be involved in intracellular functions or in mediating tissue organization changes.

Proteinase activities in the Dunning R-3327 prostatic tumor grown in nude mice and the dorsal lobe of the normal Copenhagen rat prostate were characterized using gelatin-containing SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Calcium-stimulated activities of approximately 33, 42, 64, 71, 76, 85, 98, 115, and 120 Kd as well as a 91 Kd calcium-independent proteinase were detected in the tumor, whereas the dorsal prostate showed calcium-dependent activities of approximately 62 and 80 Kd and a calcium-independent activity much greater than 120 Kd. The zymographic calcium-dependent proteinase patterns in the other rat prostatic lobes (a 62 Kd proteinase in the anterior lobe; 59, 62, and 67 Kd forms in the ventral lobe; and 52, 62, and 72 Kd activities in the lateral lobe) were distinctive from that of the tumor and of the dorsal lobe. The calcium-dependent and -independent proteinases of the tumor were active over a broad range of pH values with optimal activity near pH 8.0-8.4. The calcium-dependent activities were inhibited by EDTA and EGTA. Barium and strontium could partially substitute for calcium. The calcium-independent activities were not affected by these chelators nor by the proteinase inhibitors benzamidine, epsilon-aminocaproic acid, tranexamic acid, hydrocinnamic acid, or iodoacetate. Similarly, the metalloproteinase activities were not affected by the latter inhibitors. There was little change in the predominant molecular forms (64, 71, and 76 Kd) of proteinase following castration of tumor-bearing nude mice; however, the 98 Kd calcium-dependent activity decreased and the 91 Kd calcium-independent activity increased as a result of this treatment.

Despite the widespread agreement on the importance of preserving ecological integrity in conservation and outdoor recreation decision-making processes, traditional metrics analyzing the supply of and demand for conservation and recreation resources have focused on geographical and population-centric units of measurement rather than ecological ones. One tool past researchers have used to inform recreation resource planning is the recreation location quotient (RLQ). While simple park-to-population ratios or acres-per-capita metrics provide a base measure of carrying capacity and are often useful to set broad recreation supply standards, the RLQ offers a more nuanced snapshot of supply and demand by comparing regional ratios to a standardized reference region. The RLQ is thus able to provide a statistic or quotient that highlights regions where recreation resources are particularly abundant and/or scarce relative to a reference area. This project expands the past RLQ analyses by investigating the distribution of recreation resources across the 10 ecological sections found within the US state of Minnesota. RLQs were calculated using recreation trail mileage, natural resource and recreation area acreage data, and recreation facility data from federal, state, and local agencies. Results found notable differences in supply of recreation resources across ecological sections. Some sections were considerably underrepresented in recreation resources-per area (e.g., Red River Valley and North Central Glaciated Plains) while others were underrepresented in recreation resources-per OPEN ACCESSForests 2011, 2 994 capita (e.g., Minnesota and Northeast Iowa Morainal). The RLQ statistics and resulting maps illustrating relative surplus or deficiencies can inform future land acquisition decisions and highlight the need for cross-jurisdictional planning in order to ensure outdoor recreation systems are ecologically representative. Possible implications and recommendations for future planning decisions are discussed.