Summary
-
1.
During one hour's apnoea in air curarisedRana pipiens showed a reduction in oxygen metabolism of some 21 %. When artificial ventilation was restarted the frogs consumed 178 μl more oxygen in the first 10 min than in comparable periods before the apnoea. Over the recovery period of one hour the frogs consumed 350 μl more oxygen than in the hour before the apnoea.
-
2.
Blood lactic acid concentrations increased during apnoea and fell during the recovery period, the highest lactate levels being attained at the end of the apnoea and not during the initial part of the recovery period. The lactate: pyruvate ratio rose during apnoea. Blood glucose concentrations were above pre-apnoeic values in the early part of the recovery period.
-
3.
After one hour's apnoea in oxygen, during which there was no significant reduction in oxygen metabolism, curarised frogs displayed no oxygen debt when artificial ventilation was restored.
-
4.
The results of the present experiments are discussed in the light of previous data and it is concluded that, in normal frogs, the increase in oxygen uptake following submergence has three elements, the major one being the oxygen cost of increased activity in the form of hyperventilation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Armentrout, D., Rose, E. L.: Some physiological responses to anoxia in the Great Plains toad,Bufo cognatus. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.39 A, 447–455 (1971).
Hashimoto, K., Nukata, S.: Fol. pharm. jap.47, 9. Cited in: Blood and other body fluids. Analysis and compilation by Atman, P. L., Dittmer, D. S., Ed., p. 86. Washington, D. C.: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology 1951.
Huckabee, W. E.: Relationship of pyruvate and lactate during anaerobic metabolism. I. Effects of infusion of pyruvate or glucose and of hyperventilation. J. clin. Invest.37, 244–254 (1958).
Jones, D. R.: Oxygen consumption and heart rate of several species of anuran amphibia during submergence. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.20, 691–707 (1967).
Jones, D. R.: Experiments on amphibian respiratory and circulatory systems. In: Experiments in physiology and biochemistry, vol. 3, G. A. Kerkut, Ed. London and New York: Academic Press 1970.
Jones, D. R.: The effect of thermal acclimation on heart rate and oxygen consumption of frogs during submergence. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.41 A, 97–104 (1972a).
Jones, D. R.: Anaerobiosis and the oxygen debt in an anuran amphibian,Rana esculenta (L). J. comp. Physiol.77, 356–382 (1972b).
Karlsson, J.: Pyruvate and lactate ratios in muscle tissue and blood during exercise in man. Acta physiol. scand.1, 1–4 (1971).
Karlsson, J., Saltin, B.: Lactate, ATP, and CP in working muscles during exhaustive exercise in man. J. appl. Physiol.29, 598–602 (1970).
Leivestad, H.: The effect of prolonged submersion on the metabolism and the heart rate in the toad (Bufo bufo). Arbok. Univ. Bergen,5, 1–15 (1960).
Lenfant, C., Johansen, K.: Respiratory adaptations in selected amphibians. Resp. Physiol.2, 247–260 (1967).
Maitrya, B. B., Raman, B. N., Vyas, C. R.: Effect of varying environmental temperature on blood glucose level in Indian frog,Rana tigrina. Indian J. exp. Biol.8, 339–340 (1970).
Prosser, C. L., Weinstein, S. J. F.: Comparison of blood volumes in animals with open and closed circulatory systems. Physiol. Zool.23, 113–124 (1950).
Rieck, A. F., Belli, J. A., Blaskovics, M. E.: Oxygen consumption of whole animal and tissues in temparature acclimated amphibians. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. (N. Y.)103, 436–439 (1960).
Robin, E. D., Vester, J. W., Murdaugh, M. V., Millen, J. E.: Prolonged anaero-biosis in a vertebrate: anaerobic metabolism in the freshwater turtle. J. cell. comp. Physiol.63(3), 287–297 (1964).
Rose, F. L., Drotman, R. B.: Anaerobiosis in a frog,Rana pipiens. J. exp. Zool.166(3), 427–432 (1967).
Sabnis, P. B., Rangnekar, P. U.: Mechanism of insulin secretion in beta cells of pancreatic islets of the frog,Rana tigrina. Indian J. exp. Biol.6, 125–127 (1968).
Scholander, P. F.: Experimental investigations on the respiratory function in diving mammals and birds. Hvabråd. Skr.22, 1–131 (1940).
Smith, C. L.: Seasonal changes in blood sugar, fat body, liver glycogen, and gonads in the common frog,Rana temporaria. J. exp. Biol.26, 412–429 (1950).
Smith, C. L.: The relation between seasonal hyperglycaemia and thyroid activity in the frog (Rana temporaria) J. Endocr.10, 184–191 (1954).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jones, D.R., Mustafa, T. The lactacid oxygen debt in frogs after one hour's apnoea in air. J. Comp. Physiol. 85, 15–24 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694137
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694137