Vascular Smooth Muscle: Aerobic Glycolysis Linked to Sodium and Potassium Transport Processes

Under aerobic conditions, glucose is primarily catabolized by vascular smooth muscle to lactate, in spite of an adequate oxidative capacity. Although this is often considered to be indicative of some nonspecific metabolic insufficiency, there is evidence that aerobic glycolysis is specifically coupled to sodium and potassium transport processes, whereas oxidative metabolism is coupled to contractile energy requirements.