THE EFFECT OF ANAEROBIOSIS AND OTHER FACTORS ON THE OXYGEN CONSUMPTION OF IRRITABLE AND NON-IRRITABLE MUSCLES

Abstract

A muscle in good condition regains in O about 70% of the amount of O which is missed during a previous anaerobic period. Under certain as yet undefined conditions a muscle brought into O after a period in N may consume an extra amount of O 5 or more times as large as that missed during the anaerobic period. Muscle as compared to nerve and other tissues possesses a peculiarly effective mechanism for surviving in N. Muscles which become spontaneously non-irritable after dissection through failure to wash them in Ringer''s solution have an O consumption which averages 1.7 times the normal. Muscles rendered non-irritable by soaking in isotonic glucose, sucrose, lactose, maltose or KCl solution have likewise a high O consumption. Muscles, particularly when unwashed in Ringer''s solution, are especially liable to show sudden increases in O consumption. Such an increase in metabolic rate may be a manifestation of rigor mortis since it is, at times anyway, clearly associated with a mechanical shortening of the muscle. As a general rule muscles in good condition have a low rate of O consumption and vice versa.