Quantitative histochemistry of the primate skin

Fructoaldolase activity in primate skin and appendages has been assayed with a highly sensitive fluorometric method. Epidermal fructoaldolase has characteristics similar to the fructoaldolases obtained from animal sources. The fructoaldolase activities of various skin structures are remarkably high; all glandular structures (except for apocrine sweat glands which have the highest activity of 2400 mmoles/hr/kg dry wt.) and active epidermal layers contain activities ranging from 1000 to 1600 mmoles/hr/kg dry weight. It is possible that these high fructoaldolase activities in skin and appendages reflect active glycolysis through the Embden-Meyerhof pathway.