Roles of lactate and catecholamines in the energetics of brief locomotion in an ectothermic vertebrate.
We have investigated the magnitude and duration of excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) in a lizard following a single bout of vigorous exercise of 5-60 s, common activity durations for many ectothermic vertebrates. Desert iguanas (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) were run for 5 s, 15 s, 30 s, or 60 s. Oxygen consumption (VO2) increased from 0.16 ml O2 g(-1) h(-1) at rest to 1.3-1.6 ml O2 g(-1) h(-1) during 5-60 s of running. EPOC duration increased with activity duration, ranging from 35-63 min. EPOC volume, the excess oxygen consumed post-exercise, doubled from 0.13 ml O2 g(-1) following 5 s of activity to 0.25 ml O2 g(-1) after 60 s. EPOC represented 91-98% of the total metabolic expense of the activity. EPOC durations were always shorter than the period required for lactate removal, illustrating that these two processes are not causally related. Alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor blockade by phentolamine and propranolol had no effect on resting VO2 but depressed excess post-exercise oxygen consumption volumes 2540%. The extent of catechol stimulation post-exercise may be motivation or stimulus dependent. The data indicate that metabolic elevations post-exercise represent the majority of activity costs in lizards. The study suggests that EPOC of ectothermic vertebrates is sensitive to exercise duration and catecholamine release post-activity, even when activity periods are less than 60 s in duration.
Nedrow
J M
JM
Department of Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309-0334, USA.
Scholnick
D A
DA
Gleeson
T T
TT
D018674:Adrenergic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D007076:Iguanas / Q000502:physiology*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects
D018674:Adrenergic Antagonists; D002395:Catecholamines; D019344:Lactic Acid