THE SUCCINIC DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY OF OVARIAN AND LUTEIN TISSUE1

Abstract

The succinic dehydrogenase activity was detd. in: 1) the ovaries of immature rats, immature rats given gonadotrophins, adult pregnant and pseudo-pregnant rats and rats in diestrus; 2) lutein tissue only of pregnant, pseudopregnant and rats in diestrus; and 3) the other ovarian tissues remaining after removal of the corpora lutea from ovaries of pregnant rats. The high succinic dehydrogenase activity of the ovaries of pregnant and pseudo-pregnant rats was due to the high activity of the functional lutein tissue. Conversely, the low succinic dehydrogenase activity of lutein tissue from the ovaries of rats in diestrus, or immature rats given gonadotrophins, probably accounted for the low activity of this enzyme in ovaries of these types. It was suggested that the succinic dehydrogenase activity of lutein tissue might be used as a criterion of the level of function of corpora lutea.