Oxygen uptake and tetrazolium reduction during skin cycle of the mouse

Abstract

Quantitative measurements of oxygen consumption and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride reduction by intact skin were made during various stages of the skin cycle of the mouse. Values are highest during early anagen, when growth is most rapid: Qo 2 is 2.47 ± 0.10 (mean ± se) and TTC is 537 ± 24.6. In late anagen the activities decrease 40–50%: Qo 2 is 1.24 ± 0.10 and TTC is 315 ± 20.8. There is a close relationship between tetrazolium reduction and oxygen consumption during all phases of the growth cycle of mouse skin. The coefficient of regression of TTC on Qo 2 is 163.2 ( P < .001).