Decreased oxygen consumption after catecholamine-induced glycolysis in the alligator

Anaerobic glycolysis was stimulated by forcing alligators to work to exhaustion, or by injecting them with epinephrine or norepinephrine. In all three groups, plasma lactate increased to above 20 mM. In the work group, oxygen consumption increased three-fold. In the catecholamine experiments, oxygen consumption dropped almost to zero immediately and stayed at zero from 45 min to over 2 hr. Gradually oxygen consumption resumed, finally exceeding the control value, but only by 50%. It was concluded that catecholamine-induced glycolysis produced phosphate-bond energy greatly in excess of immediate need, and that this energy was stored until it was used by the tissue. No oxygen was used until the store was depleted.