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The effect of intermittent exercise on carbohydrate metabolism in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) Stevens, Ernest Donald

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of exercise of short duration, and the effects of re-exercise on carbohydrate metabolism. I feel that the levels of severe exercise studied approximate the levels of severe exercise which a rainbow trout probably experiences in its natural environment. The level of blood lactate, blood hemoglobin, muscle lactate, muscle glycogen, and liver glycogen were determined in unanesthetized, intact, one and one-half year old rainbow trout acclimated to 10.5°C. Samples were taken immediately after exercise of 3 seconds to 5 minutes, after recovery of 3 minutes to 60 minutes, and after re-exercise of 3 seconds to 5 minutes. The results indicate that exercise of even the shortest duration studied causes an immediate increase in the level of blood lactate, muscle lactate, and blood hemoglobin. Exercise also causes an immediate decrease in muscle glycogen, but does not cause a change in the level of liver glycogen. Changes during the 60 minute recovery period are slight. In general, the effects of re-exercise after a 60 minute recovery period are additive. A correlation analysis between muscle glycogen and muscle lactate indicates that there is a source of muscle lactate other than muscle glycogen at exercise levels of long duration. The source of this muscle lactate does not appear to come from liver glycogen. The energy may be supplied by catabolism of protein or lipid, or by absorption of foodstuffs from the gut. This study provides evidence that rainbow trout are not well adapted for recovery from severe exercise of short duration.

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