HISTOCHEMICAL TOPOGRAPHY OF MALATE-DEHYDROGENASE IN THE REPRODUCTIVE-SYSTEM OF ASCARIS-SUUM FEMALES

The presence of malate dehydrogenase was studied histochemically in th e ovaries, oviducts and uteri of female Ascaris suum. The localization of malate dehydrogenase in the reproductive organs of female Ascaris suum indicates a higher intensity of carbohydrate metabolism in the ep ithelial cells of the genital tube wall than in the oogonia, oocytes o r eggs. The absence of malate dehydrogenase in rachis proves the trans porting function of this characteristic part of the ovaries in most ne matodes. Fertilization activates the malate dehydrogenase-catalyzed me tabolic pathways in the wall of the distal portion of the uterus. Howe ver, these metabolic processes intensively occur only in the epithelia l cells. In the cytoplasm of unfertilized and fertilized eggs malate d ehydrogenase acitivy is low.