Summary
The activities of the rate-limiting enzymes of glycolytic pathway were measured in various areas of rat brains kept at a temperature of +25°C for various intervals after death by cervical dislocation. Hexokinase shows a substantial decline in activity over a period of 24 h, reaching 41%, 57%, 44%, and 51% of the controls in cerebellum, medulla oblongata and pons, cerebral cortex, and diencephalon, respectively. In the same areas the phosphofructokinase reached 28%, 61%, 60%, and 40% of the zero-time activity, respectively. Lactate dehydrogenase behaves differently in the four areas, with an increase in cerebral cortex and diencephalon and a decrease in cerebellum and medulla oblongata and pons. Pyruvate kinase activity was quite stable over the 24 h period studied. Therefore, the activities of hexokinase and phosphofructokinase in brain tissue were of little value for diagnosis of the time of death.
Zusammenfassung
Es wird über die Aktivität der für die Glykolyse notwendigen Schlüsselenzyme in verschiedenen Hirngebieten der Ratte berichtet. Nach Tötung der Tiere mittels Zervikalluxation wurden die Gehirne bei +25°C verwahrt. Die Bestimmungen wurden zu verschiedenen Zeitpunkten durchgeführt. Die Hexokinase zeigte eine deutliche Aktivitätsverminderung nach den ersten 24 h: 44% der Kontrollaktivität in der Großhirnrinde, 51% im Diencephalon, 57% in der Medulla oblongata, im Pons und 41% im Cerebellum. In denselben Zonen zeigte die Phosphofructokinase ein 60%, 40%, 61% und 28% der Aktivität im Verhältnis mit der Kontrolle. Die Werte für die Laktatdehydrogenase waren verschieden. Zwar zeigten sich auch eine Abnahme im Pons und in der Medulla oblongata und im Cerebellum, dagegen eine Zunahme in der Cortex und im Diencephalon. Die Aktivität der Pyruvatkinase war ziemlich beständig. Trotzdem erscheint es, daß das Studium der Aktivität der Hexokinase und Phosphofructokinase von geringem Wert für die Bestimmung der Todeszeit ist.
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Pla, A., Lemus, L., Valenzuela, A. et al. Postmortem activity of the key enzymes of glycolysis. Z Rechtsmed 97, 49–59 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00200959
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00200959