Oxygen consumption by human and rodent striated muscle in vitro.

Oxygen consumption has been measured in human and rodent striated muscle in vitro with a platinum-silver electrode system. The effects of excess potassium, caffeine, insulin, osmotic shock, halothane, and Na-pump blockade have been investigated and the differences from amphibian muscle responses are outlined. It has been found that normal human muscle, like that of rodents, is relatively indifferent to major surface depolarization and osmotic shock, as far as oxygen requirements are concerned. Surgical damage to muscle fibers causes them to react unpredictably to pharmacological tests. The results in normal muscles may be of use in the further study of certain muscular diseases.