ENZYME HISTOCHEMISTRY IN FEMORAL VEIN OF THE RAT

Abstract

We have done histochemical analyses of the enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in the femoral vein of the rat. These enzymes were phosphorylase, UDPG-glycogen transferase, UDPG-pyrophosphorylase (belonging to glycogenesis and glycogenolysis), and glucose-6-phosphatase, aldolase, lactate dehydrogenase (belonging to the anaerobic process), and isocitrate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, and malate dehydrogenase (belonging to the aerobic process).The localization of the various enzyme activity was studied histochemically in the three layers of the normal venous wall. The results of the experimental studies were as follows.1. The venous wall has a low or moderate enzyme activity in both the aerobic and anaerobic processes in the intima.2. The venous wall also has a high enzyme activity in both the aerobic and anaerobic processes in the media.3. Enzyme activity of the venous wall is lower in the adventitia than in the media or in the intima.We speculate that this may be considered to be related to active energy metabolism in the venous wall.