Oxidative metabolism of the rat soleus neuron pool following hypobaric hypoxia.

After 7 weeks of hypoxic acclimation, oxidative enzyme (succinate dehydrogenase) activity of motoneurons in the rat soleus neuron pool was examined. Although the total oxidative metabolism of the neuron pool was not changed, the oxidative enzyme activity of small to medium sized (25-45 microns average soma diameter) alpha motoneurons was increased. These results indicate that hypoxia preferentially enhances the oxidative capacity of specific motoneurons in the neuron pool.