Muscle Metabolism Under Anaerobic Conditions: Lactic Acid Production and Fate
Anaerobic Glycolysis in Muscle
- Glycolysis: Glucose → pyruvate (cytoplasm, O₂-independent).
- Pyruvate → Lactate: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) converts pyruvate to lactate, regenerating NAD⁺ from NADH.
- NAD⁺ recycling: Allows glycolysis to continue producing ATP (2 ATP/glucose) without mitochondrial oxidation.
Consequences
- Lactate/H⁺ accumulation → intramuscular acidosis → burning sensation, fatigue.
- Lactate diffuses into blood; cleared via Cori cycle (liver gluconeogenesis) and oxidation by heart, slow-twitch fibers, and other tissues once O₂ restored.
This temporary adaptation sustains high-intensity effort for ~1–3 minutes. Training enhances lactate clearance and buffering capacity.
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