Studies on the activity of lactate dehydrogenase and its isozymes in acute suffocation

Abstract

Changes in the activity of serum lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase and aldolase were studied in animals suffocated by tracheal compression. Alterations in the isozyme patterns of lactate dehydrogenase, and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) in the serum, liver and heart of these animals were studied qualitatively. An attempt was also made to clarify the true state of these changes in the serum enzyme systems as well as to elucidate the biochemical damage in the organs and tissues. Serum lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase and aldolase activities increased significantly after death from suffocation. The liver alone showed significant alteration in the lactate dehydrogenase isozyme pattern, not reflected in the serum isozyme pattern. Liver GOT S and GOT M and serum GOT S increased significantly in fatally suffocated animals. GOT M was noted to emerge in the circulating plasma after death from acute suffocation. There was a striking diminution of GOT S:GOT M ratios from the heart, liver and serum after death from suffocation, suggesting that the elevation of serum GOT in acute suffocation originates not only from cytoplasmic GOT S but also from sources of GOT M normally localized in the mitochondria of the cell.