Histochemical examination of energy metabolism in aortic vein grafts in rats

The duration of the presumed metabolic depression of syngeneic vena cava to aorta transplants was determined in rats and the site and type of energy metabolism in the vein grafts assessed. The aerobic metabolic activity was measured from the histochemical reactivity of the enzymes, succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase, and the anaerobic activity by staining with lactate dehydrogenase. The activity of the hexose-monophosphate shunt was assessed by the histochemical demonstration of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Sixteen hours after grafting a pronounced metabolic depression was noted. Recovery occurred 24 hours after transplantation. The most intense staining was from lactate dehydrogenase in the vein grafts and in the non-transplanted veins. At the end of the observation period of four months the grafts were definitely more strongly stained than the non-transplanted veins, with most of the activity in the thickened intima. This layer had a metabolic profile resembling that of the media of the adjacent aorta.