Alloxan diabetes in Swiss mice: activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and succinic dehydrogenase.

The activities of two enzymes viz: Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) in brain and liver of alloxan diabetic Swiss albino mice are reported. Alloxan diabetes caused significant decrease in the activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase reflecting reduced glucose transport across the cell membrane. On the contrary, the observed enhanced activity of the enzyme SDH is attributed to increased supply of TCA cycle substrates from accelerated oxidation of fatty acids.