The activity of some intracellular oxidative enzymes in the thyroid follicular epithelium of Xenopus laevis Daud. in experimental long-term hypokinesia.

Histoenzymological methods were applied to examine the activities of previously little studied intracellular oxidative enzymes in the cells of the thyroid follicular epithelium of Xenopus laevis Daud. specimens kept in aquarium. Succinate, lactate, alpha-glycerophosphate, glucose-6-phosphate and reduced NAD and NADP dehydrogenases and cytochrome oxidase were studied. In comparison with other chordate species a very strong activity was revealed particularly by lactate dehydrogenase. The data obtained suggest that the metabolism in thyroid cells of the motionless Xenopus is based on glycolysis mainly.