Variations in the enzymatic activity in the calf muscle of the rat following ischemia.

Muscle lesions induced by ischaemia have been investigated in depth from the morphological standpoint, though the metabolic changes thus caused are still the subjects of discussion. Measurements were therefore made of enzyme activities in rat calf muscle, and their changes following incomplete ischaemia. Three enzymes were studied: CPK (typical of muscle metabolism), G-6-PDH (pentose cycle, indicator of the extent of repair processes), and uptake of a labelled amino acid (L-leucine, on the part of tissue proteins. An initial increase in activity and uptake was followed by recovery functions, due to installation of a collateral circulation. This appeared to be complete by the 5th day.