[Utilization of xylitol in the isolation-perfused myocardium of the rat].

1. In the rat heart muscle, only 3 to 4% of the oxygen-consumption can be referred to xylitol utilization. With xylitol as only substrate the heart is working under substrate deficiency conditions. 2. Diabetes mellitus does not improve the xylitol utilization in the rat heart muscle. 3. The data are compared with the activities of xylitol degrading enzymes in the heart muscle.