Respiration and Anaerobic Glycolysis of Transplanted Cartilage. ∗

Abstract

Summary

1. The rate of respiration and anaerobic glycolysis of fresh rabbit costal cartilage is among the lowest of all tissues. Carbohydrate metabolism is predominantly anaerobic. 2. Transplantation resulted in approximately a 45% decline in the rates of both respiration and anaerobic glycolysis in both the autografts and homografts during the first 7 days. The major portion of the metabolic activity, however, remained on an anaerobic basis. 3. After 7 days no significant variations occurred in either the Qo₂ or Q^N _G2 values for any of the grafts. 4. No salient difference was observed between the metabolic activity of costal cartilage autografts and homografts in the rabbit from 7 to 150 days after transplantation.