Metabolic properties of mouse transplantable adenocarcinoma.

SUMMARY Some metabolic properties of a new, spontaneous, trans plantable adenocarcinoma originating from a C3H mouse sub maxillary gland have been analytically compared to the normal gland. The major findings may be summarized as follows: (a) The oxygen consumption of tumor cells is 38% higher than that of the normal gland. (b) In anaerobic conditions the nor mal submaxifiary gland shows a higher degree of glycolysis, while in the presence of air it is unable to glycolyze. (c) The presence of pyruvate and fumarate greatly increases the oxy gen consumption of tumor homogenate, while for the normal gland homogenate their utilization is very low. The diphospho pyridine nucleotide requirement for oxidation of pyruvate and fumarate is practically similar for the tumor and the normal gland. The data obtained are evaluated in terms of their compara tive significance and a tentative interpretation of the findings is suggested.