Heart rates of sea snakes diving in the sea

• 1.1. Classical diving bradycardia was not evident in sea snakes diving in the sea.
• 2.2. Activity increases heart rate both in apneic and in breathing snakes; there is a breathing tachycardia in the laboratory and in the sea.
• 3.3. Heart rates obtained from animals diving in the sea (26 m depth) were similar to those obtained under laboratory conditions if allowances are made for activity differences.
• 4.4. Handling and stress increases heart rates of sea snakes.

     

Heart rates of adult red-spotted newts,Notophthalmus viridescens in air and submerged in normoxic and hypoxic water at different temperatures

• 1.1. Heart rates of adult aquatic red-spotted newts can be conveniently recorded using an impedance pneumograph.
• 2.2. Heart rates decrease linearly with decreasing temperature.
• 3.3. Submergence in normoxic and hypoxic water at 10°, 15°, and 20°C results in bradycardia which is more pronounced in hypoxic water.
• 4.4. At 5°C one newt exhibited the above pattern, but bradycardia was not exhibited by the other newt during normoxic submergence.
• 5.5. Diminishing heart rates are probably due to oxygen deficiency, not immersion alone.
• 6.6. Recovery from bradycardia in air is rapid and not linked with resumption of aerial breathing.

     

Heart rate and its cholinergic control in the sole (Solea vulgaris), acclimatized to different temperatures

• 1.1. The effects of thermal acclimatization at 10 and 24°C on heart rate were investigated on unrestrained soles (Solea vulgaris).
• 2.2. The sensitivity of heart rate to temperature changes induced by temperature acclimatization was higher in cold-acclimatized than in warm-acclimatized soles.
• 3.3. Heart rate of cold-acclimatized fish to temperature changes was not affected by blocking the vagal tone with atropine.
• 4.4. After atropine treatment the ability of heart rate to show thermal compensation decreased in warm-acclimatized soles.
• 5.5. It is suggested that the vagus nerve can function differently at different temperatures.

     

Thermal adaptation of heart rate and its parasympathetic control in the European eel Anguilla Anguilla (L.)

• 1.1. Heart rate-temperature relationships were determined on unanaesthetized, unrestrained eels acclimated to 15°C and 25°C.
• 2.2. Heart rate in eels with intact vagal tonus exhibited a nearly complete temperature compensation. The degree of compensation was considerably reduced by blocking the vagus function with benzetimide.
• 3.3. The difference in the sensitivity of heart rate to temperature change induced by temperature acclimation was significantly decreased after benzetimide-treatment.
• 4.4. The inhibitory vagal tonus was significantly higher in warm-acclimated than in cold-acclimated eels.
• 5.5. It is concluded that adaptation of heart rate to temperature is mediated by the parasympathetic system to a great extent.

     

Oxygen consumption,body temperature and heart rate in the coati (Nasua nasua)

• 1.1. Coatis are chiefly diurnal, showing marked nycthemeral variations of body temperature and oxygen uptake.
• 2.2. The thermoneutral zone extends from 25–33°C; the basal metabolic rate is about 40% below the value predicted from body mass.
• 3.3. Thermoregulation in cold is excellent, partly due to decreasing thermal conductance at falling ambient temperatures.
• 4.4. Exposure to temperatures above 35°C is endured for only short periods.
• 5.5. Basal heart rate is reduced to about 70% of the predicted level. The contribution of heart rate to increased oxygen demands at falling ambient temperatures is rather low.
• 6.6. The measured physiological characteristics of coatis are discussed with regard to the high mobility and the wide distribution range of these procyonids.

     

Reduced muscle protein breakdown in septic rats following treatment with interleukin-1 receptor antagonist

• 1.1. The role ofinterleukin-1 (IL-1) in sepsis-induced muscle proteolysis was assessed by treating septic rats with recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist (rIL-Ira).
• 2.2. In initial experiments, we tested the effectiveness of IL-Ira in preventing muscle proteolysis induced by administration of IL-1.
• 3.3. When normal rats were treated with rIL-α (three intraperitoneal doses of 100 μ g/kg body weight each over 16 hr), total and myofibrillar muscle protein breakdown rates, measured as release oftyrosine and 3-methylhistidine, respectively, by incubated extensor digitorum longus muscles, were significantly increased.
• 4.4. This metabolic response to IL-α was completely abolished by rIL-Ira, administered as three intraperitoneal doses of 3 mg/kg body weight each over 16hr.
• 5.5. In subsequent experiments, sepsis was induced in rats by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP); non-septic rats were sham-operated.
• 6.6. Treatment of septic rats over 16hr with a total dose of 25mg/kg body weight of rIL-Ira reduced, but did not normalize, the increased muscle protein breakdown rates seen during sepsis.
• 7.7. When the dose of rIL-Ira was more than doubled and given as a constant infusion at a rate of 4.2 mg/kg body weight/hr for 16 hr, the increased rate of muscle proteolysis in septic rats was normalized.
• 8.8. The present study offers the first direct evidence that IL-1 is involved in the regulation of muscle proteolysis during sepsis.

     

The effect of feed restriction on certain haematological indices,enzymes and metabolites in Nubian goats

• 1.1. Some effects of restricting feed intake for 96 or 168 hr were determined in male Nubian goats.
• 2.2. Goats restricted for 96 hr lost 11.6% of their body weight, and goats restricted for 168 hr lost 19.8%.
• 3.3. Feed restriction for up to 168 hr did not produce significant effects on the heart rate, respiratory rate or rectal temperature.
• 4.4. Haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume and erythrocyte number were all decreased by feed restriction. There was also a tendency towards eosinopenia and lymphopenia.
• 5.5. Feed restriction for 96 or 168 hr raised the plasma activity of aspartate transaminase, and did not affect significantly cholinesterase activity. Plasma amine oxidase activity was significantly reduced in goats restricted for 168 hr.
• 6.6. Feed restriction produced significant increases in the blood or plasma concentrations of lactate. pyruvate, non-esterified fatty acids, cholesterol, ketone bodies and bilirubin.
• 7.7. Significant decreases were found in the concentrations of total protein and calcium.
• 8.8. No significant changes were observed in the plasma concentrations of glucose, sodium or potassium.

     

Temperature acclimation in respiratory and cytochrome c oxidase activity in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

• 1.1. Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to experimental temperatures of 12, 18, 24, 30 or 36°C for a 4-week period were used to investigate the effect of temperature acclimation on the frequency of opercular movement (FOM), growth and cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) activity in heart, liver and muscle.
• 2.2. An exponential relationship between FOM and temperature after the first week (10₁₀ =1.76) disappeared after the second week.
• 3.3. The initially high FOM at temperatures of 30 or 36°C and the low FOM at 18 or 12°C changed over 4 weeks to approach the FOM of fish at 24°C.
• 4.4. This change in the relationship of FOM to temperature from highly dependent to independent appeared to be thermal compensation.
• 5.5. Heart and liver CCO activities were significantly affected by temperature, with the lowest activity at the approximate optimum temperature for growth, 24°C.
• 6.6. Highest CCO activities for heart and liver occurred at both the highest and lowest temperatures.
• 7.7. Among the three tissues, heart CCO activity was generally the highest and most affected by acclimation temperature.
• 8.8. Muscle tissue had the lowest CCO activity and was unaffected by temperature.
• 9.9. The high CCO activity at a cold acclimation of temperature 12°C was probably due to thermal compensation and the high activity at 36°C may have been a result of thermal stress.

     

Body temperature,oxygen consumption,evaporative water loss and heart rate in the fennec

ab]

• 1.1. Fennecs show marked diurnal variations of body temperature and heart rate.
• 2.2. Basal metabolic rate (0.358 ml/ghr) is 39% lower than predicted by body mass, minimal conductance is reduced for 23%.
• 3.3. Fennecs have a wide thermoneutral zone (23.4–32.0°C) and a low rate of evaporative water loss.
• 4.4. Basal heart rate is considerably reduced. Oxygen pulse increases with decreasing ambient temperature. The higher oxygen demands below thermal neutrality, however, are met primarily by a rise in heart rate.
• 5.5. Newborn fennecs show a metabolic response to cold from the first day of life.

     

Running performance of the thirteen-lined ground squirrel,the eastern chipmunk and the albino Norway rat

• 1.1. The procedure used to compare the forced running performance of three rodent species was the number of electrical stimuli required each minute to keep the animals running.
• 2.2. During running trials, ground squirrels, Spermophilus tridecemlineatus, required fewer stimuli than white rats. Squirrels ran 12.4 ± 6.9 (2 SE) min before requiring stimulation vs 3.1 ± 1.4 min for rats.
• 3.3. Total oxygen consumption during the running period was significantly higher for ground squirrels than white rats, 4.70 ± 0.36 and 4.18 ± 0.38ml O₂/g/hr, respectively.
• 4.4. Heart weight/body weight ratios were significantly higher for the ground squirrels than the white rats.
• 5.5. No differences were noted between ground squirrels and chipmunks other than those which could be accounted for by body weight differences.

     

Temperature acclimatization in the filtering rates and oxygen consumption of Daphnia ambigua scourfield

• 1.1. Filtering rates and oxygen consumption were measured in the field on a wild population of the fresh-water limnetic cladoceran Daphnia ambigua.
• 2.2. Filtering rates increased with increasing body size and were significantly affected by environmental temperature.
• 3.3. Oxygen consumption increased with increasing body size; there was no significant difference among b values determined at different environmental temperatures but bs were highest at low temperatures. decreased progressively at higher temperatures and increased at the highest temperatures.
• 4.4. Temperature significantly affected the rate of oxygen consumption.
• 5.5. Both filtering rates and oxygen consumption evidenced classical translation to the left in cold-acclimatized animals. An environmental temperature near 12°C apparently separates warm- and cold-acclimatization processes.

     

Effects of water stress on hemolymph volume,osmotic potential and chemical composition in Megetra cancellata

• 1.1. Rates of water loss in Megetra cancellata were very high compared to those reported for other xeric arthropods.
• 2.2. Hemolymph weight in hydrated animals was 43.0% of the total body weight while it was 24.7% in desiccated animals that had lost 16.1% of their body weight as water.
• 3.3. Hemolymph osmotic potential increased from 417 to 447 mOsm/kg in desiccated beetles, but osmotic regulation was evident.
• 4.4. Total hemolymph protein mass and concentration decreased in desiccated beetles while amino acid concentrations remained constant (at about 70 mM).
• 5.5. Na⁺ and −PO₄ concentrations increased in desiccated beetles.
• 6.6. Cl⁻ and K⁺ concentrations in desiccated beetles were equal to those in undesiccated beetles.

     

Effect of temperature on oxygen consumption and heart rate of the australian crayfish Cherax tenuimanus (Smith)

• 1.1. Oxygen consumption at 18°C was 60% of the rate at 22 and 26°C.
• 2.2. Critical points, where the rate of oxygen consumption changed, were defined at 22°C (2.89 mg DO) and 26°C (3.46 mg DO). Linear regressions were fitted showing that oxygen consumption declined significantly (81.5% ±4.5) below the critical point.
• 3.3. Oxygen consumption was proportional to weight. Allometric relationships resulted in variable temperature-related coefficients for respiratory dependence on weight, a reflection of the crayfish adaptation towards re-establishment of a new equilibrium state.
• 4.4. Heart beat rate was lower at 18°C, and highest at the acclimation temperature (22°C). Stress at 26°C was evident.

     

Heart rate and blood pressure in bullfrogs during prolonged maintenance in water at low temperature

• 1.1. Bullfrogs were maintained in air-saturated water at 4°C under an 8:16hr, light:dark, photoperiod for 50 days from December to February.
• 2.2. Heart rates and mean arterial pressures from these submerged frogs remained stable throughout the entire period in the cold. The slow heart rates that were observed appeared to result from a combination of low temperature and submergence. No indication of torpor was observed in any of the animals.
• 3.3. These findings demonstrate that the cardiovascular system of bullfrogs apparently retains normal regulatory function when these animals are maintained under temperature and photoperiod conditions analogous to those found during overwintering.

     

Influence of temperature,rate of feeding and body weight on nitrogen metabolism of bream,Abramis brama L

• 1.1. Measurements of the rate of nitrogen consumption, total nitrogen and ammonia excretion and nitrogen absorption of bream, Abramis brama L. (body weight range 0.4–519 g wet wt) were made at 10, 15 and 20 C.
• 2.2. Fish were fed once daily on live zooplankton collected in Lake Balaton and cultured Tubifex sp. at 5–15% of their body weight.
• 3.3. Fish size and temperature had a combined effect on the rate of total nitrogen excretion. Total nitrogen excretion did not increase proportionally with an increase in consumption.
• 4.4. On average, 52–80% of the nitrogen consumed with food was excreted by bream.
• 5.5. The greatest part of total nitrogen excretion was ammonia and its proportion in the total ranged between 53 and 75%.
• 6.6. Temperature did not have any significant effect on the proportion of excreted ammonia and the rate of excreted total nitrogen was the only factor determining its proportion in the total.
• 7.7. The rate of nitrogen absorption of bream was surprisingly very high.

     

Lizard heart rate and motor activity relationships in the circadian and ultradian ranges

• 1.1. The heart rate and motor activity of lizards (Gallotia galloti) maintained in a light-dark cycle (12:12 hr) and with changing cyclic temperature were recorded. Both variables showed a circadian pattern, motor activity variations leading heart rate by approximately 110 min.
• 2.2. Results from cross spectral analysis showed that heart rate was highly correlated with temperature and both variables were changing practically in phase. However, motor activity and temperature were less correlated and in this case motor activity led temperature by approximately 100 min.
• 3.3. In the ultradian range, two periodicities could be distinguished in the power spectra of motor activity and heart rate variations during the day: one between 0.019 and 3.9 × 10⁻³ cycles/min (central peak around 85 min period) and another, of lower power, between 0.05 and 0.02 cycles/min (central peak around 34 min period). During the night, only the heart rate showed both periodicities but with a lower amplitude.
• 4.4. The presence of ultradian oscillations in heart rate during the night suggested that they do not depend on motor activity which was almost absent during that daily period.
• 5.5. Motor activity and heart rate were also highly correlated in the ultradian range, motor activity leading heart rate by around 5 min at the 85 min main peak.

     

The effects of environmental variables on the heart rates of invertebrates

• 1.1. The effects of temperature, salinity and declining O₂ on the heart rates of nine species representing four animal phyla have been investigated in relation to other respiratory paramters.
• 2.2. The effect of temperature on heart rate is at least the same as, and often greater than, the effect of temperature on O₂ consumption, thus providing no evidence that adaptations of the cardiovascular system facilitate metabolic compensations for a temperature change.
• 3.3. Responses to reduced acclimation salinity are very diverse among the various species, permitting no general conclusions about the role of the cardiovascular system in adaptations to estuarine habitats.
• 4.4. At low PO₂ the typical response is bradycardia, which is especially notable in species with a high capacity for anaerobic metabolism. Compensatory tachycardia, the expected response in vertebrates, is very rare in other animal groups.
• 5.5. Estimates of cardiac output from these data generally agree with those obtained according to the Fick principle from blood gas tensions.
• 6.6. The estimates of cardiac output are evaluated in terms of body size, temperature and the design of cardiac muscle, which is fundamentally different in various animal phyla.

     

Role of the visceral nerve in heart rate variations during different behavioral patterns in Megalobulimus sanctipauli (mollusca,gastropoda, pulmonata)

• 1.1. The role of the visceral nerve in mediating the changes in heart rate associated with different behavioral patterns was investigated in Megalobulimus sanctipauli.
• 2.2. The results of acute and chronic denervation experiments indicate that the visceral nerve has no excitatory or inhibitory tonic action on the heart of snails retracted into the shell, nor does it account for the increase in heart rate associated with the locomotion and feeding behaviors.
• 3.3. These changes in heart rate are, probably, indirect effects of increased activity such as an increase in venous return.
• 4.4. The visceral nerve is responsible for approximately 3/4 of the increase in heart rate associated with the first minute of extrusion.
• 5.5. The small increase in heart rate observed in denervated animals is probably caused by an increase in venous return generated by muscle activity that forces the head and food out of the shell.

     

Effects of niacin deficiency on the relative turnover rates of proteins in various tissues of Japanese quail

• 1.1. The effects of niacin deficiency on the relative turnover rates of proteins in various tissues of Japanese quail were investigated.
• 2.2. The level of liver NAD was not affected by niacin deficiency whereas the level of pectoral muscle NAD was markedly reduced.
• 3.3. In all dietary treatments the liver had the highest turnover rates of proteins, heart and brain had intermediate rates, and pectoral muscle had the lowest rates.
• 4.4. Relative turnover rates of proteins in all tissues (particularly pectoral muscle) of the niacin deficient group were significantly higher than those of pair-fed control group, although there were no significant differences in turnover rate between pair-fed control and control groups.
• 5.5. The high turnover rate of proteins in niacin deficiency was primarily attributed to enhanced degradation rate of proteins rather than enhanced synthesis rate of proteins.
• 6.6. Optical density scanning (or densitometric) of water-soluble pectoral muscle proteins separated by isoelectric focusing revealed several additional minor protein bands between major protein bands in the niacin deficient group which were more pronounced in the acidic region of the gel.
• 7.7. These results suggest that proteins with a low pI value in pectoral muscle of the niacin deficient animal are highly sensitive to protein degradation.

     

The energetics of shedding: Energy content of snake skin

• 1.1. The weight and energy content of sloughed skins of 92 individual snakes of 22 different species in three families were measured.
• 2.2. Weight and total energy content of shed skins were highly correlated with body weight.
• 3.3. The heat of combustion (kJ/g) of sloughed skins varied significantly among families and was higher in species having unkeeled scales than in those with keeled scales.
• 4.4. The presence of keels significantly affected weight of skins, even when skin weight is adjusted for covariance with body weight.
• 5.5. Neither body weight nor ambient temperature significantly affected the heat of combustion of sloughed skins.
• 6.6. The energy content of shed skin, expressed as a proportion of daily metabolism, decreased with ambient temperature, but the effect is minimized in large snakes.
• 7.7. Small snakes expended relatively less energy in sloughed skins than large snakes when the expenditure is expressed in terms of total daily metabolized energy.