We measured the activities of Na+K+ ATPase and of enzymes of the glycolytic
pathway, Krebs cycle, and the respiratory chain in cerebral cortex of mice
exposed to chronic hypoxia for three weeks and compared their values with
those of sea level controls. There were no differences in Na+K+ ATPase acti
vity or in the activity of glycolytic enzymes. In the Krebs cycle, a 66% in
crease of succinate dehydrogenase activity was found due to a lower Km. In
contrast, respiratory chain cytochrome oxidase activity was reduced by 12%
in mice exposed to hypoxia. This suggested that the metabolic demand would
be satisfied despite the respiratory chain depression (cytochrome oxidase),
probably due to anaerobic energy production within the mitochondria (succi
nate dehydrogenase). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights rese
rved.