Biochemical studies on energy metabolism in the conduction system of bovine heart.

The conduction system of bovine heart was studied to clarify the characteristics of its energy metabolism. Results showed that its mitochondrial oxygen uptake was much lower than that of ordinary heart muscle with succinate as substrate but similar to that of ordinary heart muscle with glutamate + malate as substrate. The activity of succinate dehydrogenase was lower than that in ordinary heart muscle. The total activity of isozymes of lactate dehydrogenase was lower in the specialized heart muscle than in ordinary heart muscle. The main isozyme of lactate dehydrogenase in the specialized heart muscle was LDH 1 (H4). The cytoplasmic NAD+/NADH ratio as much higher in the specialized heart muscle than in ordinary heart muscle. These results suggest that in the specialized heart muscle energy is mainly derived from aerobic metabolism.