Measurement of Oxygen Metabolism In Vivo

This chapter explains the importance of measuring mitochondrial function in drug trials. It focuses on features of a novel Cellular Oxygen METabolism (COMET) measurement system: The first bedside monitor of cellular oxygen metabolism. It is apparent that mitochondrial assessments are needed for development of novel drugs designed to enhance and/or maintain mitochondrial function. The ideal method of measuring mitochondrial function would be inexpensive and noninvasive, yet able to show multiple parameters of mitochondrial function, such as both oxygen consumption and phosphorous metabolism. Mitochondrial oxygen tension is measured by means of protoporphyrin IX-triplet state lifetime technique (PpIX-TSLT), and it is used to assess mitochondrial function in human skin cells in vivo. After introduction of the PpIX-TSLT as a new method to measure mitochondrial oxygen tension in vivo, the development of a clinical monitor was started. By using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and PpIX-TSLT techniques, increased in vivo oxygen consumption was revealed.

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