STUDIES ON THE TRANSAMINASE ACTIVITY OF MUSCLE TISSUE FROM ALLATECTOMIZED ROACHES, PERIPLANETA AMERICANA

Abstract

The transaminase activity of roach muscle homogenate was measured by the spectrophotometric method for oxalacetic acid. The transaminase activity of muscle from allatectomized roaches of both sexes of adults and nymphs was significantly lower than in normal animals. There was also a significant difference between sexes. The reduction in transaminase activity of muscle from female adults was about twice that of male adults but between nymphs the difference due to sex was not nearly so striking. The activity of muscle tissue due to allatectomy was considerably more reduced in male nymphs than in male adults. The significance of these results is discussed.