Published in

The Company of Biologists, Journal of Experimental Biology, 2017

DOI: 10.1242/jeb.160911

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Temperature effects on the cardiorespiratory control of American bullfrog tadpoles based on a non-invasive methodology

This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.
This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.

Full text: Unavailable

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Orange circle
Postprint: archiving restricted
Orange circle
Published version: archiving restricted
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Temperature effects on cardiac autonomic tonus in amphibian larval stages have never been investigated. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of different temperatures (15°C, 25°C, and 30°C) on the cardiorespiratory rates and cardiac autonomic tonus of premetamorphic bullfrog tadpoles, Lithobates catesbeianus. To this end, a non-invasive method was developed to permit measurements of electrocardiogram (ECG) and buccal movements (fB; surface electromyography of the buccal floor). For evaluation of autonomic regulation, intraperitoneal injections of Ringer's solution (control), atropine (cholinergic muscarinic antagonist), and sotalol (β-adrenergic antagonist) were performed. Ringer's injections did not affect heart rate (fH) and fBacross temperatures. Cardiorespiratory parameters were significantly augmented by temperature [fH (beats.min−1): 15°C: 24.5±1.0; 25°C: 54.5±2.0; 30°C: 75.8±2.8 and fB (movements.min−1): 15°C: 30.3±1.1; 25°C: 73.1±4.0; 30°C: 100.6±3.7]. A predominant vagal tone was observed at 15°C (32.0±3.2%) and 25°C (27.2±6.7%) relative to the adrenergic tone. At 30°C, the adrenergic tone increased relative to the lower temperature. In conclusion, the cholinergic and adrenergic tones seem to be independent of temperature for colder thermal intervals (15-25°C), while exposure to a hotter ambient temperature (30°C) seems to be followed by a significant increase in adrenergic tone and may reflect cardiovascular adjustments made to match oxygen delivery to demand. Furthermore, while excluding the use of implantable electrodes or cannulae, this study provides a suitable non-invasive method for investigating cardiorespiratory function (cardiac and respiratory rates) in water-breathing animals, like the tadpole.