Comparison of glycolytic, pentose phosphate pathway, glyoxylate shunt, Krebs' cycle enzymes in Ganeo tigrinum parasitizing hibernating and non-hibernating Rana cyanophlyctis and R. tigrina

Abstract

AbstractThe histochemical site and distribution of hexokinase, glycogen phosphorylase (GP Rylase), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (key enzymes of glycolysis), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) (pentose phosphate shunt enzymes), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (α-KDH) (key enzymes of Krebs' cycle), malate synthetase (MS) and isocitrate lyase (IL) (enzymes of glyoxylate shunt) in various tissues of Ganeo tigrinum from hibernating and non-hibernating Rana cyanophlyctis and R. tigrina were studied. Differences in their intensities were revealed. Weak activity of GP Rylase and strong activity of hexokinase in flukes from non-hibernating hosts indicates that they utilize glucose through glycolysis for energy turnover. Intense GP Rylase and weak hexokinase activity in worms from hibernating hosts indicates the utilization of glycogen. Strong activity of IDH, SDH, MDH, α-KGD, MS and IL was demonstrable in the tissues of flukes from non-hibernating hosts, suggesting that Krebs' cycle and glyoxylate shunt, respectively, were operating. Tissues of the fluke from hibernating hosts, on the other hand, displayed positive activity only for SDH and MDH; no activity for MS and IL, the enzymes of glyoxylate shunt, was observed, The activity of the above enzymes was found to be relatively low in worms from hibernating hosts.