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The aim of this study was to evaluate whether food intake modulates experimental tumour growth by acute alterations in the energy state and blood flow of the tumour, and if so whether such changes are related to alterations in the enzyme ornithinedecarboxylase (ODC) and DNA synthesis. Inbred mice (C57BL/J) bearing a syngeneic undifferentiated and rapidly growing tumour were used. The tumour levels of high energy phosphates were measured in vivo by 31-P-NMR spectroscopy and biochemically following tissue extraction. DNA synthesis was estimated by measuring the incorporation of bromodeoxy-uridine into tumour DNA. Difluoro-methylornithine (DFMO) was used to inhibit ODC-activity. Tumour blood flow was estimated by a 132Xe local clearance technique. Tumour progression was associated with a significant decrease in tumour tissue high energy phosphates. Acute starvation decreased DNA-synthesis and tumour energy charge as well as its PCr/Pi which were rapidly normalised during subsequent refeeding. These changes were related to similar alterations in tumour blood flow. The inorganic phosphate (Pi) resonance and the resonances in the phosphomonoester (PME) region were considerably increased in tumour tissue. Inhibition of ODC-activity by DFMO decreased DNA-synthesis, which was associated with a secondary increase in tumour high energy phosphates probably due to a lowered energy demand for tumour cell division. The results demonstrate that host undernutrition was translated into retarded tumour growth associated with a decrease in the energy state and blood flow of the tumour. The results have bearing for the evaluation and planning of all treatment protocols with potential influence on food intake in experimental tumour-bearing animals.

The dynamics of rat skeletal muscle energy metabolism in response to ischemia and reperfusion have been investigated by in vivo 31P NMR spectroscopy. The time course of changes in the phosphocreatine, inorganic phosphate, ATP peaks and in intracellular pH during 2 and 4 h of tourniquet ischemia followed by up to 24 h of tissue reperfusion have been determined. Furthermore, the ATP and IMP concentrations in the soleus and tibialis muscles have been determined by high performance liquid chromatography analysis in response to ischemia and subsequent reperfusion. The results demonstrate an initial overshoot in the pH during the first minutes of ischemia. It is also shown that the muscles recover completely after 2 h of ischemia whereas the energy state of the muscle cell is not restored after 4 h of ischemia followed by up to 24 h of reperfusion. However, the soleus muscle recovers better than the tibialis. The results are discussed in terms of oxygen availability, reperfusion injury, IMP accumulation and different response between muscles with different fibre composition.

The regulation of the energy metabolism in contracting skeletal muscle is under close control, and several regulating factors have been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of the oxygen supply as a limiting factor for muscle performance during contractions and recovery from contractions. To perform well-controlled standardized experiments on contracting skeletal muscle, the perfused rat hind limb model was developed. The 31P NMR technique was adapted to the rat hind limb model. This enabled continuous nondestructive monitoring of the energy state at various levels of muscular activity. Significant correlations were found between oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption, lactate release, and glucose uptake, respectively. An increased degree of fatigue was observed at lower oxygen deliveries. In both soleus and gastrocnemius muscles, oxygen delivery correlated with the intramuscular concentrations of phosphocreatine (PCr), lactate, and glycogen. The 31P NMR experiments showed a correlation between oxygen delivery and the steady-state level of PCr/inorganic phosphate (Pi) during the contraction period. The rate of recovery in PCr/Pi after the contraction was also dependent on oxygen delivery. The results demonstrate a causal relationship between oxygen supply and energy state in contracting as well as recovering skeletal muscles.

The relationship between the oxygen supply and the energy metabolism in perfused rat hindlimb muscles was evaluated both during contractions and during recovery from contractions. The 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique and conventional biochemical methods were used. Significant correlations were found between the oxygen delivery and the oxygen consumption, lactate release and glucose uptake, respectively. An increased degree of fatigue was observed at the lower oxygen deliveries. In both the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles the oxygen delivery correlated with the intramuscular concentrations of phosphocreatine, lactate, and glycogen. The 31P-NMR experiments showed a correlation between the oxygen delivery and the steady-state level of the phosphocreatine-to-inorganic phosphate (PCr+Pi) ratio during the contraction period. The rate of recovery in PCr/Pi after the contractions was also dependent on the oxygen delivery. The results demonstrate a causal relationship between the oxygen supply and the energy state in contracting as well as recovering skeletal muscles.