LACTIC ACID METABOLISM OF MUSCLES MADE NON-IRRITABLE BY SUGAR SOLUTIONS

Abstract

The high O2 consumption of muscles in isotonic sugar solns. is accompanied by a 5- or 6-fold increase in lactic acid content, and an oxidative quotient of 0.6-0.9 (as calculated from the O2 consumption and the difference between the anaerobic and aerobic lactic acid content). Addition of small quantities of NaCl (0.046%) to the sugar soln. reduces the O2 consumption abruptly to or near the resting level and decreases only slightly the rate of anaerobic and aerobic lactic acid formation so that the oxidative quotient rises to 2.5. Larger quantities of NaCl cause a more marked decrease in both anaerobic and aerobic lactic acid formation, but the oxidative quotient is not further increased. KCl also increases the oxidative quotient even though it causes a slight increase in anaerobic lactic acid accumulation.