Oxygen consumption in regenerating tissue

Abstract

Little knowledge has been obtained as to the rate of metabolism of regenerating tissue as compared with that of normal tissue. Child,'15, 2 has found that susceptibility or physiological resistance of organisms varies directly with the rate of metabolism. He found, in practice, that a measure of the resistance to cyanide poison was an efficient method for determining the rate of metabolism. In experiments of regenerating tissue of Planaria (flatworm) he concluded that immediately after operation, the rate of metabolism fell below normal, remained there for a few days, then arose above normal where it remained for some time after regeneration was complete, when it gradually approached normal. I obtained the same result with Sagartia, a small anemone (Coelenterate). In my method the rate of metabolism was measured by determining the amount of oxygen consumed by the regenerating animals as compared with the normal animals. Oxygen determinations were made by means of the Winkler method. The experiment continued for twelve days. Determinations were made every twelve hours. Table I shows percentage consumption of oxygen by regenerating animals as compared with normal animals for each twelve hour period.

The result is parallel to that found by Child with Planaria. While extensive morphological studies on regeneration have been made, it is necessary that a more complete study of the physiological processes involved should also be made.