Cathepsins B and L activity was assayed with a slight modification of the method using specific synthetic substrates: 100 µmol L^-1 N-carbobenzoxy-Arg-Arg 7-amido-4-methylcoumarin (Z-Arg-Arg-AMC) (Sigma Chemi-cal Co.,St.Louis,MO) and 100 µmolL^-1 N-carbobenzoxy-Phe-Arg7amido-4-methylcoumarin (Z-Phe-Arg-AMC) (Sigma Chemical Co.)