Abstract
The energy metabolism of newborn dogs subjected to anoxia was investigated by simultaneous direct and indirect calorimetry before, during and after anoxic episodes. In all 12 experiments the decrease in rectal temperature, heat loss, calculated heat production and post anoxic oxygen consumption provided incontrovertable evidence for a significant decrease in the rate of energy turnover during anoxia. With 9 or more minutes of anoxia at 29°C ambient temperature there was at least a 50% decrease in the rate of heat production. During longer anoxic intervals of 16 minutes at 20°C, heat production decreased to 80% of control values, and yet complete recovery occurred.
The concept of an anoxic oxygen debt was extended to encompass situations with changing rates of heat production by defining an oxygen debt in terms of the difference between direct and indirect calorimetry. The oxygen debt incurred (anoxic heat production ranged from 250 to 770 cal/kg) and the oxygen debt paid back (excess of indirect calorimetry over direct calorimetry) during the recovery period agreed within 12% (r=0.7). Identical studies on newborn kittens, rabbits and rats confirmed that in neonatal anoxia a progressive decrease in the metabolic rate of more than 70% is compatible with survival.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Engel, R. 180 THE RELATIVE ROLE OF ANAEROBIC AND LOWERED METABOLISM IN NEONATAL ANOXIA TOLERANCE. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 393 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00185
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00185