TISSUE METABOLISM OF WARM-BLOODED ANIMALS AT NORMAL AND AT FEBRILE TEMPERATURES

Abstract

In all tissues (liver and kidney of rat, rabbit, cat and dog), studied by the Warburg apparatus, the av. increase per 1[degree] rise in temp. was fairly uniform under the same conditions. In Ringer''s phosphate-glucose solution equilibrated with oxygen the Q10 values averaged 1.7 for the first hr. but were of little significance because of the much more rapid decline in the metabolism at the higher temp. than at normal temp. When air was substituted for pure O and serum for the Ringer''s solution the metabolism at febrile temp. was maintained for several hrs. at a rate slightly higher than previously and parallel to normal; the av. Q10 was 2, a value which compares more favorably with the Q10 found with intact animals and makes it appear probable that isolated tissue responds to increased temp. with ca. the same order of intensity as does the body as a whole.