AJP - Heart and Circulatory Physiology, Vol 233, Issue 6 707-H710, Copyright © 1977 by American Physiological Society
Myocardial enzyme activities in guinea pigs during development
S. E. Barrie and P. Harris
The activities of hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and
glycolytic enzymes were higher in the fetal myocardium of the guinea pig
than at birth and fell progressively during the 1st mo of life. The
alphaHBDH/LDH ratio of H to M subunits of lactate dehydrogenase, was low in
the fetus and continued to rise during the 1st mo after birth. The
distinction between the left and right ventricular activities of lactate
dehydrogenase, which is clear in adult guinea pigs, was absent in the fetus
and appeared during postnatal development. Glycogen phosphorylase activity
was low in the fetus and at birth. The activities of
beta-hydroxyacylcoenzyme A dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, malate
dehydrogenase, and aspartate aminotransferase were low in the fetus, but
had reached, or even temporarily exceeded, normal adult levels at birth.
Palmitylcarnitine transferase activity was also low in the fetal heart
compared with the newborn but continued to increase substantially during
the first 2 wk after birth.
