Metabolic pathways in chick amnion muscle. A cytochemical study

By means of histochemical techniques different reactions were studied in the amnion musculature of the chick during their most active period of contractions between the 5th and the 9th days of incubation. The muscle cells showed strong activity for cholinesterase and glutamate dehydrogenase and low activity for monoaminoxidase. The glycogen, phosphorylase and UDPG-glycogen glycosyltransferase were negative. Whereas, lipids and enzymes involved in fat metabolism were positive. The supposed energy source of the amnion musculature is discussed.