GLYCOLYSIS IN RAT PERITONEAL MAST CELLS

Glycolytic activity of rat peritoneal mast cells has been measured by the Cartesian ampulla diver technique. The rates of anaerobic glycolysis, expressed as CO(2) expelled from a bicarbonate medium, are 1.70 x 10(-6) microl and 1.43 x 10(-6) microl per cell per hour with and without glucose, respectively. The aerobic glycolysis rate in the presence of glucose, assuming the respiratory quotient to be 1, is 0.93 x 10(-6) microl CO(2) per cell per hour. It is pointed out that the anaerobic and non-respiratory aerobic carbon dioxide production by mast cells is much higher than the respiratory oxygen uptake reported previously. These values have been interpreted in terms of glucose utilization.