The enzymatic activities in the alkali-burnt rabbit cornea.

Alkali-burnt corneas of the rabbits with 1 N NaOH were studied periodically for enzymatic activities by biochemical methods. There was significant increase of aldolase (ALD) activity both in corneal epithelium and stroma 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after alkali burns. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity was significantly decreased in epithelium and was absent in stroma. Thus the breakdown of glucose would be present preferably in the Embden-Meyerhoff pathway instead of the pentose phosphate shunt. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity of corneal epithelium and stroma was significantly decreased 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after alkali burns and the possible pathway of glycolysis might channel to citric acid cycle, in which malate dehydrogenase (MDH) could indicate the important role in this pathway.