Metabolism of ATP during anoxia in guinea pig seminal vesicle mucosa.

The content of adenine nucleotides in guinea pig seminal vesicles was determined enzymatically. Inosine monophosphate (IMP) was isolated from other tissue nucleotides by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography on cellulose PEI plates, eluted, and quantitated spectrophotometrically. The intracellular concentration of IMP increased 10-fold over control values (aerobic tissue) concomitantly with the strong ATP drain caused by anoxia. This contrasts markedly with other tissues in which ATP depletion is usually associated with an increase in AMP. Tissue inorganic phosphate also accumulated in an amount corresponding to the apparent ATP depletion. Uric acid did not accumulate. Our data suggest the possibility of a special role for IMP in metabolic control in this tissue.