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Respiratory accommodations in Rhodnius prolixus in response to increased metabolic rates
Author(s) -
Contreras Heidy Lorena,
Bradley Timothy J
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.598.4
Subject(s) - rhodnius prolixus , respiratory system , respiration , rhodnius , biology , blood meal , respiratory rate , metabolic rate , meal , medicine , physiology , endocrinology , heart rate , anatomy , insect , ecology , food science , blood pressure
It has been proposed that discontinuous respiration may have evolved in insects to decrease oxidative damage to tissues when at rest. However if metabolic rate (MR) increases, or the capacity of the respiratory system to deliver O2 to active tissues is altered, respiratory pattern in insects may change to meet aerobic demands. Specifically, we expect that as MR increases insects will transition from discontinuous (DGC) to cyclic and finally to continuous respiration. Preliminary studies have shown that a tenfold increase in MR (via temperature) in Rhodnius changed respiratory patterns from DGC to continuous respiration. However, Rhodnius respiratory responses due to feeding‐induced MR increase are not known. In Rhodnius prolixus metabolic rates (and body volume) may increase up to ten‐fold after a blood meal. They therefore provide an excellent model for studying the effects of specific dynamic action (SDA) on respiratory pattern. We expect that as metabolic rates increase, insects will transition to the different patterns as previously observed. However, due to the large effect of the meal on body volume and MR, differences in the overall MR required to induce the different patterns may be altered. Funding: APS Porter Physiology Development Award