RESUMEN
The activity of succinate, lactate and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenases was studied in blood monocytes of 15 healthy donors and 20 patients with lepromatous leprosy. Cytochemical reaction was assessed photometrically. The total extinction in monocytes, relative activity and the dehydrogenase ratio were measured. The data obtained have shown that in healthy donors, the decrease of the culture temperature to 25 degrees C leads to the prevalence of glycolysis and the fall in the activity of the pentose-phosphate shunt. In leprosy patients, the dehydrogenase activity at a culture temperature of 37 degrees C is similar to that in healthy subjects at a temperature of 25 degrees C. Reduction of the monocyte culture temperature in leprosy patients does not cause any significant changes in the dehydrogenase activity of monocytes.