Lactate dehydrogenase forms in denervation and disuse atrophy of red and white muscle

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Abstract
The 2 principal forms of lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] were studied in either denervated or immobilized rabbit soleus[long dash]a red, tonic muscle[long dash]and gastrocnemius[long dash]a white, phasic one. The heart form of the enzyme (heart LDH) predominated in red muscle and the muscle form (muscle LDH) in white muscle. Following denervation, there was a marked fall of soleus heart LDH and of gastrocnemius muscle LDH. Immobilization caused a decrease of heart LDH in the soleus and no changes in the gastrocnemius. An increase of muscle LDH occurred in contralateral soleus muscles, as a result of the paralysis of the opposite limb; therefore, intact animals were needed as controls. These results could be explained in view of the existing functional differences between red and white muscles. Further knowledge in this area might be helpful in the study of human neuromuscular disorders.