What does oxidative capacity mean?

[m25]

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What does oxidative capacity mean? Does it simply refer to a cell's capacity to go through aerobic respiration in mitochondria?

 

[amy_k]

We usually refer to the oxidative capacity in terms of a particular muscle, but it is determined by number of, and surface area of mitochondia in that muscle. Oxidative capacity is measured in moles of oxygen consumed per gram of muscle fibers per hour, which is pretty self-explanatory.

 

[m25]

We usually refer to the oxidative capacity in terms of a particular muscle, but it is determined by number of, and surface area of mitochondia in that muscle. Oxidative capacity is measured in moles of oxygen consumed per gram of muscle fibers per hour, which is pretty self-explanatory.

I see, so it's a term commonly used in muscle. Can a muscle type with high oxidative capacity still use anaerobic respiration as its main activity?

 

[amy_k]

Muscle fibers with high oxidative capacity (slow-twitch) would have aerobic respiration as the main activity, but they do have a low capacity for anaerobic, which means that it is possible for anaerobic to occur, but it won't be the main pathway.

Then fast-twitch muscle fibers are the opposite, low oxidative capacity and anaerobic is the main pathway.