P-Nmr-Spectroscopy Measurements of Energy Metabolism of in Vivo Growing Ascites Tumours Following Addition of Glucose

Abstract

The cellular ATP content and the phosphorylation potential, defined as the ATP, ADP and inorganic phosphate (Pi) ratios, of exponentially growing Ehrlich ascites tumour cells were compared with cells at the plateau phase of growth. These phosphorus compounds were measured using 31P-NMR-spectroscopy immediately after removal of the cell material from the host and in their ascites fluid reflecting in vivo growth conditions. Reaching the plateau phase of growth, the ATP content and the phosphorylation potential decreased. Upon addition of glucose, the phosphorylation potential immediately increased. We concluded that the reduced phosphorylation potential was due to a limited availability of glucose in spite of the nearly normal blood glucose concentration found. An increasing diffusion distance from the host to all parts of the tumour is a possible reason for that.