A modeling investigation to the possible role of myoglobin in human muscle in near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurements.
Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) analyzes infrared light having traveled through tissue, for its oxygenation status. The main chromophore analyzed is hemoglobin (Hb), but in muscle tissue also myoglobin (Mb) is present. Since NIRS cannot discern between these two species experimentally, we did model calculation studies using general data for human muscle. Where such data were not directly available, we derived these from analogous data or straightforward assumptions. Consequently, conclusions have to be drawn cautiously. Solid conclusions are, that myoglobin is an important factor with red muscle, and that it is always partly desaturated, significantly depending on workload. Here, both deoxygenated Hb and Mb as detected by NIRS varied between 0.04 and 0.13 mol/m3, while the variation in Mb saturation (53-86%) even exceeded that of Hb (63-84%).
Hoofd
Louis
L
237 Department of Physiology, University of Nijmegen, Geert Groote Plein 21, 6525 EZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Colier
Willy
W
Oeseburg
Berend
B
D006801:Humans; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D009211:Myoglobin / Q000502:physiology*; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000379:methods*
D009211:Myoglobin