LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE ISOZYMES OF 12 SPECIES OF FLATFISH (HETEROSOMATA)

The starch gel electrophoresis patterns of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from various tissues of 12 flatfish species belonging to 3 families are described. In 10 species belonging to the families Pleuronectidae and Bothidae, most tissues have a single major LDH isozyme. The central nervous system and retina show more complex patterns. Two species belonging to the Soleidae do not possess major tissue‐specific LDH isozymes in central nervous system and retina. Some properties of the LDH isozymes from the skeletal muscle, heart, brain and retina of the plaice are described. The LDHs of muscle and heart appear to be identical. The major tissue‐specific isozyme of retina accounts for almost 40% of the LDH activity in that tissue in the plaice. The difficulties in the way of using LDH zymograms to deduce the evolutionary relationships of the Heterosomata with other teleosts are discussed. Copyright © 1969 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company