Lactic dehydrogenase and metabolism of human leukocytes in vitro.

During transformation and division of lymphocytes in culture, the lactic dehydrogenase isozymes migrate increasingly toward the cathode. With extension of the time in culture, the mitotic index declines, and the isozyme pattern reverts to dominance of those bands that move toward the anode, despite the cellular tendency to anaerobic metabolism. These findings suggest that synthesis of the more slowly migrating lactic dehydrogenase isozymes in this system is related to mitotic activity, and not to the aerobic or anaerobic conditions of cell culture.