[Transmural distribution of hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutamate-oxalacetate transaminase in the left ventricle of the rat].

The changes in hexokinase (HK), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6P-DH) and glutamate aspertate aminotransferase (GOT) activities with the location of tissue within the left ventricle wall have been explored in the rat myocardium. The hearts were cut in 100 micron thick serial sections (see 4) and all sections spectrophotometric procedures (5). No significant transmural gradient in HK activity was observed but the levels of G6P-DH and of GOT activities were significantly higher in the subepicardial tissue and were at their lowest levels in the midmyocardial layers. Our data and previous observations (3,6) indicate that adptions to regional differences in the cardiac work load occurred in the left ventricle wall but that the transmural patterns of enzyme distribution may change with the different animal specie.