[An enzymohistochemical study of experimental tumors of the intestine]

The activity of 19 enzymes (hexokinase, glucoso-6-phosphatisomerase, alpha-glycerophosphate-, lactate-, succinate-, isocitrate-, malate-, glucoso-6-phosphate-, 6-phosphogluconate-, glutamate-, alcohol-, inosine-5'-phosphate-, guanosine-5'-monophosphate-dehydrogenase, cytochromoxidase NAD.N2- and NADP.N2-diaphorase, monoaminoxidase, alkaline and acid phosphatase) was studied comparatively in the mucosa of control rats and in tumors of the small intestine (27), and large intestine (176), induced in 41 rats percutaneously by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine. A decreased level of the enzymes of tissue respiration and Krebs cycle was found with a simultaneous increase in the activity of the enzymes of glycolysis and pentoso-monophosphate shunt. These data evidence variations in tumor metabolism consisting in oxidizing phosphorylation, being replaced by aerobic glycosis, and also reflecting an intensive proliferation of tumor cells.