Differences in the Effect of Lactic Acid and Neutral Lactate on Glycolysis and Nucleotide Pattern in Incubated Whole Human Blood

Whole human blood collected in heparin and glucose was incubated for up to 48 hours. Glycolysis proceeded, giving rise to lactic acid formation, and in consequence the pH decreased continuously. Blood ATP levels also decreased as glycolysis slowed since glycolysis is the only energy source in the red cells of whole human blood. The decrease in glycolytic rate was shown to be entirely dependent upon the increasing acidity and not on the lactate per se, since added neutral lactate had no effect on the rate of glycolyis or the ATP level whereas added lactic acid had a profound effect on both glycolysis and ATP level.