PHOSPHORYLASE AND AMYLO-1,6-TRANSGLUCOSIDASE IN RODENT ORAL MUCOUS MEMBRANE

Abstract
Fresh frozen sections of rodent palate and gingiva were stained for phosphorylase and amylo-1,6-transglucosidase by the method of Takeuchi. Although phosphorylase has been reported to be lacking in rodent skin it appears to be present in rodent oral mucous membrane. The activity appears to be of a low intensity in this region since consistent staining was obtained only with thick sections (70 µ). Straight chain and branching enzymes were found to be more abundant in the palate than the gingiva, and the observed activity diminished with increasing age. Straight chain enzyme activity appeared abundant in the basal cells of the stratum Malpighii although stainable glycogen is usually lacking in these cells.