Award Date

1-1-1993

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biological Science

Number of Pages

115

Abstract

Amphibians undergo pronounced physiological and morphological adjustments during metamorphosis, due in large part to the change from water breathing to predominantly air breathing. A developmental change in the ability of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems to transport oxygen or a change in tissue demand for oxygen may be reflected in the aerobic metabolic rate (MO{dollar}\sb2{dollar}). This study focuses on how MO{dollar}\sb2{dollar} of the South African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) is affected by short term hypoxia during development. MO{dollar}\sb2{dollar} of animals from Nieuwkoop and Faber stages 1-66, 1 month post-metamorphic froglets, and adult frogs were measured under conditions of normoxia and various degrees of hypoxia down to PO{dollar}\sb2 > 10{dollar} mmHg. Whole-body lactate contents were also assayed to assess anaerobic metabolic supplementation of aerobic metabolism. Larvae up to stage 57 were oxygen conformers. After stage 58, larvae were oxygen regulators. Anaerobic metabolism was used to supplement aerobic metabolism only by animals older than stage 52.

Keywords

Development; Hypoxia; Influence; Interaction; Laevis; Metabolic; Rate; Short; Shortterm; Term; Xenopus

Controlled Subject

Physiology; Biology

File Format

pdf

File Size

3112.96 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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