Respiration and glycolysis of rabbit muscle in vitamin E deficiency.

Accompanying the paralysis produced by deprivation of vitamin E, the respiration of skeletal muscle is significantly accelerated. The activity of some tissue enzymes has also been shown to be altered, but none of these observations has as yet provided any basis for interpreting the physiological r61e of a-tocopherol. Although the excessive rate of respiration of muscle from dystrophic animals has been repeatedly demonstrated (l-3), no studies seem to have been made of the respiratory quotient or the rate of anaerobic glycolysis in such muscle. The purpose of this investigation was to ascertain which substrates, if any, are burned preferentially, and whether the accelerated respiration is accompanied by increased anaerobic glycolysis.