The activity of oxidative enzymes in neuroglia cultured in vitro. II. Dehydrogenases linked with ectenzyme I and succinate dehydrogenase

Histochemical studies were carries out with tissue cultures of glia from newborn rats. Cultures aged 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14—19, 21, 25, 28 and 30 days were studied. Activity of the following enzymes was investigated: dehydrogenase of coenzyme I, succinic, lactic, glutamic, malic and ethyl alcohol dehydrogenases.Activity of all the studied enzymes, with the exception of the dehydrogenase of coenzyme I, was lower in the early stages of growth (1—10 days) than in later stages. Tetrazolium reductase, which exhibited the highest activity, was not affected by the age of the culture.Significant differences in the distribution of enzymatic activity were found in relation to the type of glial cells and age of the culture.The dehydrogenase of coenzyme 1 and lactic dehydrogenase showed the highest activity. Glutamic, succinic and malic dehydrogenases showed lower activity, and alcohol dehydrogenase the lowest activity, which increased in older cultures.Marked individual differences in intensity of enzymatic activity of different cells of the same type were noted, presumably in connection with the functional state of the cells.The intensity of enzymatic activity in glial cell in vitro is similar to that in reactive glia in vivo.