Characterizing Tissue Enzyme Activities of Cuban Tree Frogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis)

Abstract

Abstract Cuban tree frogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis) are native to the West Indies and represent one of over 7,000 extant species of amphibians. Biochemical enzymes are often used as an aid in the diagnostic evaluation of many veterinary patients, including amphibians. Knowing the tissue of origin for these enzymes aids in interpretation. This study evaluated tissue specificity of eight different enzymes in the Cuban tree frog, including amylase, lipase, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT). Seven different tissues (liver, cardiac muscle, lung, kidney, skeletal muscle, gonad, and pancreas) were collected from five adult Cuban tree frogs for enzyme analysis. The results showed that CK and LDH enzymes were primarily derived from skeletal and cardiac muscles; ALT was primarily derived from kidney and liver; AST was primarily derived from liver, kidney, and skeleta...