The effect of temperature and anoxia of rat-kidney slices on their subsequent respiration

Abstract

1. Rat-kidney slices were kept, aerobically and anaerobically, at 4 degrees , 20 degrees and 38 degrees , for 0.5-24hr. The oxygen consumption was then measured at 38 degrees . 2. After 6hr. of storage at 4 degrees the rate of oxygen consumption was the same as controls, but after 12 and 24hr. of storage the oxygen consumption fell by 22 and 32% respectively; there was no difference between the slices kept aerobically and anaerobically for periods of 2-24hr. at 4 degrees . 3. Anaerobic storage at 20 degrees for 2hr. did not affect the subsequent rate of oxygen consumption, but after 4 and 6hr. the anaerobically stored tissue showed loss of oxygen consumption. Aerobic storage had no effect for 6hr. 4. There was a marked fall in the capacity to consume oxygen after 0.5hr. at 38 degrees without oxygen. 5. Kidney slices stored at 4 degrees lost nitrogen. The presence of oxygen did not affect this nitrogen loss.