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5 April 2019 TISSUE ENZYME ACTIVITIES IN FREE-LIVING EASTERN BOX TURTLES (TERRAPENE CAROLINA CAROLINA)
Laura Adamovicz, John Griffioen, Anthony Cerreta, Gregory A. Lewbart, Matthew C. Allender
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Abstract

Plasma biochemical enzymes are commonly assayed as part of a diagnostic evaluation for zoological species, but their interpretation is complicated by a lack of knowledge about tissue of origin in many reptiles. This study evaluated tissue specificity of six biochemical enzymes (alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], creatine kinase [CK], gamma-glutamyl transferase [GGT], and glutamate dehydrogenase [GLDH]) in 10 tissues (skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, lung, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, kidney, spleen, and reproductive tract) from 10 free-living eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina). CK activity was highest in skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and gastrointestinal tract; GLDH and ALT activities were highest in liver, kidney, and gallbladder; ALP and GGT activities were elevated in kidney and gastrointestinal tract; and AST was relatively nonspecific, with significantly higher activity in the cardiac muscle, liver, kidney, skeletal muscle, and gallbladder compared to other tissues (P < 0.05). These results serve as a first step toward improving clinical interpretation of plasma biochemistry panels in box turtles.

Copyright 2019 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Laura Adamovicz, John Griffioen, Anthony Cerreta, Gregory A. Lewbart, and Matthew C. Allender "TISSUE ENZYME ACTIVITIES IN FREE-LIVING EASTERN BOX TURTLES (TERRAPENE CAROLINA CAROLINA)," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 50(1), 45-54, (5 April 2019). https://doi.org/10.1638/2018-0079
Accepted: 25 September 2018; Published: 5 April 2019
KEYWORDS
biochemistry enzyme activity
eastern box turtle Terrapene carolina carolina
reptile
tissue specificity
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