Rapid epithelial repair (restitution) after injury is required to maintain barrier function of the gastrointestinal mucosa and skin and is thought to be a highly ATP-dependent process that would be inhibited under hypoxic conditions. However, little is known about the metabolic pathways required for restitution. Thus, this study was undertaken to evaluate, in vitro, the role of oxidative respiration and glycolysis in restitution after injury. To this end, restitution of the bullfrog gastric mucosa was evaluated under the following conditions: 1) blockade of mitochondrial respiration; 2) blockade of glycolysis; or 3) absence of glucose. The extent of mucosal repair after injury was evaluated by electrophysiology and morphology. Cell migration, repolarization, and the formation of tight junctions after injury occurred during blockade of mitochondrial respiration, whereas the recovery of mucosal barrier function did not. In contrast, glycolytic inhibition completely blocked all aspects of restitution by inhibiting the migration of surface epithelial cells. Restitution occurred in tissues incubated with glucose-free solutions, suggesting that cells contain sufficient glucose (glycogen) to drive glycolysis for many hours. Our results demonstrate that the glycolytic pathway is essential for restitution after injury in the bullfrog gastric mucosa and that all but complete repair of barrier function occurs in the absence of mitochondrial respiration.
