title: Effects of long-term exposure to hydrostatic pressure per se (101 ATA) on eel metabolism.
abstract: Oxygen consumption, MO2, has been measured in yellow freshwater eels (Anguilla anguilla L.) exposed in normoxic conditions for 31 days at a hydrostatic pressure of 101 ATA (atmosphere absolute; 1 ATA = 0.1 MPa) using a high pressure water circulation system. The results (series I) show that from a maximal value observed at the end of compression, MO2 decreases exponentially with time (tau congruent to 1.4 days) then reaches a steady state (MO2 = 0.67 +/- 0.05 mmol.h-1.kg-1) at a lower level than observed at 1 ATA before compression (MO2 = 1.04 +/- 0.03 mmol.h-1.kg-1). These observations are in agreement with the hypothesis that shallow water fish are able to adapt to pressure; the possible mechanisms of this adaptation are discussed. Results from a second experimental series show that fish previously submitted to pressure for 1 month (then decompressed to 1 ATA) adjust faster to a new pressure exposure (4 days later) than fish that have never experienced pressure exposure. This observation suggests that the mechanisms triggered by long-term pressure exposure could persist, at least in part, for several days after decompression to atmospheric pressure.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de physiologie, URA-CNRS 648, Faculté de médecine, Brest, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sebert
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barthelemy
mesh_terms: D000811:Anguilla / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D006874:Hydrostatic Pressure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009043:Motor Activity; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011312:Pressure / Q000009:adverse effects*