Chronobiological analysis of peripheral lymphocyte dehydrogenase activities in rats with Walker 256 carcinosarcoma.

Alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (alpha-GPD) and succinate dehydrogenase (SD) activities were investigated in lymphocytes from peripheral blood of normal rats and rats bearing the Walker 256 carcinosarcoma. Computer analysis using an original algorithm revealed a hierarchy of biorhythmic patterns of dehydrogenase activities. In all rats, mean SD activity was higher than mean alpha-GPD activity. In rats without tumor, SD and alpha-GPD activities were both higher than in rats with the Walker tumor. Biorhythm spectra for both dehydrogenases were very similar in rats with or without tumor, but tumor implantation resulted in a change of the phase relationship between alpha-GPD and SD.