A comparison of two nonclassical models for oxygen consumption in brain and liver tissue.

Experimentally observed steady-state pO2 profiles in tissue slices can be described by a Michaelis-Menten oxygen consumption model. Calculated values for Km = 0., torr in brain tissue, and Km = 2.2 torr in liver tissue are two orders of magnitude higher than Km values determined from mitochondrial suspensions. Brain tissue has a higher metabolic rate and higher affinity for oxygen than liver tissue.