[The effect of autolysis on the conduction system in young rats. An enzyme histochemistry study]

The conducting system of young rats was studied by histochemistry during autolysis at room temperature lasting 1, 3, 6, 24 and 48 hours. The results were compared with working muscle tissue. The most sensitive was the "glycogen-dependent" phosphorylase and the activity decreased after 1 hour. It was slightly detectable as late as after 24 hours when the working muscle was already negative. Other enzyme activities (oxidoreductases and hydrolases) were practically uninfluenced by 6 hour autolysis. A substantial decrease of activities was found in conducting system after 48 hours in comparison to the working muscle. A solitary relatively strong residual activity belonged to acetylcholine-esterase in the conducting system. Detection of acetylcholine-esterase can be useful in identification of the conducting system even later after death.