Tissue and serum enzyme activities in the yellow rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta quadrivitatta).

Abstract

Activities of diagnostically important enzymes were measured in serum and lysates of liver, kidney, skeletal muscle, heart, intestine, lung, and pancreatic tissues from wild-caught yellow rat snakes, Elaphe obsoleta quadrivitatta. All samples were analyzed for alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase (LD), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and creatine kinase (CK) activities. The major enzyme activities found in the liver were LD and AST. The kidney had moderate activities of LD, AST, alanine transaminase, and CK. Skeletal muscle and heart contained high CK activity. Intestine, lung, and pancreas had low activities for most enzymes analyzed. Little to no gamma-glutamyltransferase activity was found in serum or tissues analyzed. Serum enzyme activities in yellow rat snakes were similar to those described for other reptile species, except for serum CK activity, which was increased in rat snakes.