Lactate Flashcards
Why are RBCs always producing lactate?
Because they do not have capacity for all aerobic pathways; if RBCs were to have mitochondria, might use the oxygen being carried in aerobic respiration. Thus, RBCs have to synthesis ATP by anaerobic respiration
Why is lactate synthesised even when oxygen is present?
Cells have small quantities of NAD+, and so when rate of glycolysis is high, and NAD+ is depleted, pyruvate accepts electrons from NADH to synthesise lactate and regenerate NAD+
Why does lactate not cause massive changes in blood pH?
Because of buffer systems, e.g. bicarbonate
Why is measuring lactate helpful?
Gives indication of fuel metabolism; response to a standardised test can be used to show training adaptations; often considerably lower in overtrained individuals compared with their normal values
