Energy metabolism of the rat masseter muscle on masticatory movements

Abstract

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been used to evaluate the metabolic process in skeletal muscles during exercise. Varying phosphocreatine, inorganic phosphate and intracellular pH, I investigated the metabolism in the rat masseter muscle during masticatory movements during feeding, making use of ^<31>P-MRS. During normal masticatory movements during feeding, the supply of ATP is carried out in an aerobic environment. This suggests that energy metabolism in the rat masseter muscle is related to the masticatory cycle and force.