Oxygen Consumption Rate of Tumour Cells as a Function of their Proliferative Status

Summary

The oxygen consumption rate $\left( \dot{Q}{{O}_{2}} \right)$ of EMT6/Ro-cells cultured as monolayers was investigated as a function of their proliferative status. The transition of these cells from the exponential to the plateau growth phase was associated with a continuous decrease in $\dot{Q}{{O}_{2}}$ per single cell. This decrease can partially be attributed to a corresponding decline in cellular volume. In addition, the $\dot{Q}{{O}_{2}}$ per cell volume was also reduced during the passage of the cells through the growth phase described. The results lead to the conclusion that a reduction in cellular volume and factors which are still unknown may contribute to the metabolic changes observed.