Spires J, Gladden LB, Grassi B, Saidel GM, Lai N. Model analysis of the relationship between intracellular PO2 and energy demand in skeletal muscle. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 303: R1110 -R1126, 2012. First published September 12, 2012 doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00106.2012.-On the basis of experimental studies, the intracellular O2 (iPO2)-work rate (WR) relationship in skeletal muscle is not unique. One study found that iPO2 reached a plateau at 60% of maximal WR, while another found that iPO2 decreased linearly at higher WR, inferring capillary permeability-surface area (PS) and blood-tissue O2 gradient, respectively, as alternative dominant factors for determining O2 diffusion changes during exercise. This relationship is affected by several factors, including O2 delivery and oxidative and glycolytic capacities of the muscle. In this study, these factors are examined using a mechanistic, mathematical model to analyze experimental data from contracting skeletal muscle and predict the effects of muscle contraction on O2 transport, glycogenolysis, and iPO2. The model describes convection, O2 diffusion, and cellular metabolism, including anaerobic glycogenolysis. Consequently, the model simulates iPO2 in response to muscle contraction under a variety of experimental conditions. The model was validated by comparison of simulations of O2 uptake with corresponding experimental responses of electrically stimulated canine muscle under different O 2 content, blood flow, and contraction intensities. The model allows hypothetical variation of PS, glycogenolytic capacity, and blood flow and predictions of the distinctive effects of these factors on the iPO 2-contraction intensity relationship in canine muscle. Although PS is the main factor regulating O 2 diffusion rate, model simulations indicate that PS and O 2 gradient have essential roles, depending on the specific conditions. Furthermore, the model predicts that different convection and diffusion patterns and metabolic factors may be responsible for different iPO 2-WR relationships in humans. oxygen diffusion; convection; bioenergetics; exercise; glycolysis; contraction THE SKELETAL MUSCLE INTRACELLULAR PO 2 (iPO 2 )-exercise intensity relationship was previously investigated to study the regulatory mechanisms of O 2 consumption (V O 2 ) in working skeletal muscle (49,55,57). In particular, from these NMR studies in humans, skeletal muscle iPO 2 was inferred from measurements of deoxymyoglobin concentration during muscle contraction. The relationships between iPO 2 and metabolic intensity [i.e., work rates (WR)], however, were dissimilar. Molé et al. (49) reported that iPO 2 decreased linearly as WR increased above 50 -60% of peak V O 2 (V O 2peak ), whereas Richardson et al. (55,57) found that iPO 2 was low and constant above 60% of V O 2peak during knee extensor exercise. In addition, Molé et al. inferred that the blood-tissue O 2 gradient, rather than capillary permeability-surface area (PS), as proposed by Richardson et al., was the dominant factor determin...