The Influence of Anoxia on Lactate Utilization in Man after Prolonged Muscnlar Work

Abstract

Summary. A slight modification of B arker and S ummerson's method of lactic acid determination is described. The rates of lactate utilization, urinary lactate excretion and blood glycolysis during recovery from prolonged muscular exercise were studied in two subjects working on a bicycle ergometer. The results indicate that under the specified conditions the rate of lactate utilization is not significantly altered by anoxia caused by inhalation of low percentage oxygen mixtures. the rate of blood glycolysis is low compared with the utilization rate of lactate and is independent of the blood lactate level. the rate of urinary lactate excretion is very low compared with the utilization rate of lactate. and is independent of anoxia. The difficulties in determining the chemical order of the lactate utilization processes are discussed.