MICROCALORIMETRY FOR ASSESSMENT OF ENERGY TURNOVER OF HUMAN GASTROINTESTINAL MUCOSA IN-VIVO

The objective of the present microcalorimetric investigation on mucosa l biopsies from human gastric body (B) and descending duodenum (D) was to test whether a steady state of metabolism does persist and, if not , to find out how to assess the preexisting in vivo conditions. The me asurements were performed at various incubation temperatures and parti al pressures of oxygen. The measured curves fell exponentially after r eaching an initial maximum without an initial steady state. Back-extra polations to the time of taking the biopsies on the basis of a two-pha se exponential decay curve gave baseline thermal power values at 37 de grees C of 41 (D) and 15 (B) mu W/mg(dw), respectively, which roughly correspond to known values of basal oxygen consumption of heart and ki dney. The higher values of the duodenum may be founded on a higher tra nsport activity in vivo. Altogether, microcalorimetry seems to be a me thod for comparative evaluation of metabolic activity of human mucosa samples. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.