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Paradoxical Anaerobism in Desert Pupfish
Author(s) -
Breukelen Frank,
Hillyard Stanley
Publication year - 2015
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.29.1_supplement.982.3
Subject(s) - anaerobic exercise , biology , oxygen , fish <actinopterygii> , metabolism , ecology , zoology , chemistry , physiology , biochemistry , fishery , organic chemistry
Oxidation of glucose through aerobic pathways is ~15X more efficient than is anaerobic metabolism. Pupfish of the genus Cyprinodon experience variable periods of up to nearly 5h of virtually no oxygen consumption. This paradoxical anaerobism occurs in the presence of oxygen. The longest continuous bout was 149 min although more typical bouts are only a few minutes in length. Fish randomly cycle between periods of paradoxical anaerobism and stable oxygen consumption patterns suggesting no long‐term damage or alternations to mitochondria. There is no evidence for compensatory oxygen use. Fish produce ethanol as an apparent alternate end product of anaerobic metabolism. Exposure to exogenous ethanol induces rapid onset of paradoxical anaerobism.