glycogen and Hyperoxia

This study examined the effects of different oxygenation levels and substrate availability on cardiac performance, metabolism, and biochemistry in sexually immature male and female rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Ventricle strips were electrically paced (0.5 Hz, 14 degrees C) in hyperoxic or hypoxic Ringer solution. Our results demonstrate that 1) males sustain isometric force production (F) longer than females under hyperoxia (P O2 = 640 mmHg) with exogenous glucose present; 2) contractility is not maintained under moderate (P O2 = 130 mmHg) or severe hypoxia (P O2 = 10-20 mmHg) with glucose in either sex; however, following reoxygenation, F is higher in females compared with males; and 3) female tissue has higher lactate levels, net lactate efflux, and lactate dehydrogenase activity than males, whereas males have higher glycogen, citrate synthase, and beta-hydroxy acyl-CoA dehydrogenase activities, and greater inotropic responses to exogenous glucose and octanoate. No sex differences were detected in responsiveness to epinephrine and inhibitors of glucose transport or activities of hexokinase and pyruvate kinase. We conclude that sex differences exist in rainbow trout cardiac tissue: females appear to prefer glycolysis for ATP production, whereas males have a higher capacity for aerobic and lipid metabolism.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Electric Stimulation; Energy Metabolism; Epinephrine; Fatty Acids; Female; Glucose; Glycogen; Glycolysis; Heart; Heart Rate; Hyperoxia; Hypoxia; In Vitro Techniques; Lactic Acid; Male; Myocardial Contraction; Myocardium; Oncorhynchus mykiss; Organ Size; Oxygen; Sex Characteristics; Vasoconstrictor Agents; Ventricular Function

Short-term (24 h) effects of four stressors (hypoxia, hyperoxia, potassium dichromate, fenitrothion) on the activity of the electron transport system (ETS) and total lipid, glycogen and protein contents were assessed in 4th instar larvae of Chironomus riparius. Hypoxia and hyperoxia caused an increase in ETS activity and protein content. Glycogen content decreased when larvae were placed under hypoxic conditions. ETS activity increased following exposure to 2 microg x l(-1) of fenitrothion. It decreased in larvae exposed to 20 microg x l(-1) of this insecticide. A decrease in lipid and glycogen contents was observed in larvae exposed to potassium dichromate or fenitrothion. Changes in ETS activity and lipid and glycogen contents may be related to the activation of the respiratory chain due to an increase in energy cost associated with homeostatic phenomena, such as detoxification processes. These results suggest that some parameters related to energy metabolism, such as ETS activity and lipid and glycogen contents, may be used as biomarkers of environmental disturbance in Chironomus riparius larvae.

Topics: Animals; Chironomidae; Energy Metabolism; Fenitrothion; Glycogen; Hyperoxia; Hypoxia; Larva; Lipid Metabolism; Oxygen; Potassium Dichromate