Zymographic demonstration of lactate and malate dehydrogenases isoenzymes in the rodent salivary glands

Analysis of lactate and malate dehydrogenase zymograms of rodent salivary glands showed species and organ specific patterns. Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme patterns occupied the middle positions in relation to those of skeletal and heart muscle. Activities of the major salivary glands were in the order submaxillary gland>parotid>sublingual gland. Zymogram of the mouse and rat showed LDH4 and LDH5 high activity patterns, while that of the rabbit was the fast moving active one. Hamster salivary gland exhibited a neutral type of the former and the latter. Malate dehydrogenase isoenzyme exhibited very similar patterns for the mouse, rat and hamster. Malate dehydrogenase zymogram of rabbit showed 3 active bands, which was different from the other rodents.