Metabolic depression during aestivation does not involve remodelling of membrane fatty acids in two Australian frogs

• Published in: Journal of comparative physiology. B, Biochemical, systemic, and environmental physiology Vol. 179; no. 7; pp. 857 - 866
• Main Authors: Berner, Nancy J, Else, P. L, Hulbert, A. J, Mantle, B. L, Cramp, R. L, Franklin, C. E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 01.10.2009; Springer-Verlag; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Amphibians; Analysis of Variance; Animal Physiology; Animals; Anura - physiology; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Body Size; Body Weight; Cockroaches - chemistry; Cytochrome; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Energy Metabolism - physiology; Estivation - physiology; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids - analysis; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated - analysis; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 - analysis; Frogs; Gryllidae - chemistry; Human Physiology; Kidney - chemistry; Kidney - enzymology; Life Sciences; Liver - chemistry; Liver - enzymology; Liver - growth & development; Membranes; Metabolism; Mitochondria; Mitochondria, Liver - chemistry; Mitochondria, Liver - enzymology; Mitochondria, Muscle - chemistry; Mitochondria, Muscle - enzymology; Mollusks; Muscle, Skeletal - chemistry; Muscle, Skeletal - enzymology; Musculoskeletal system; Northern Territory; Organ Size; Original Paper; Phospholipids - chemistry; Proteins; Queensland; Random Allocation; Seasons; Zoology; Northern Territory; Queensland; Australia; Cytochrome; oxidase; Fatty acid composition; Na; Citrate synthase; Membrane remodelling; ATPase; K; Metabolic depression
• DOI: 10.1007/s00360-009-0368-y
• ISSN: 0174-1578

Changes in membrane lipid composition (membrane remodelling) have been associated with metabolic depression in some aestivating snails but has not been studied in aestivating frogs. This study examined the membrane phospholipid composition of two Australian aestivating frog species Cyclorana alboguttata and Cyclorana australis. The results showed no major membrane remodelling of tissue in either frog species, or in mitochondria of C. alboguttata due to aestivation. Mitochondrial membrane remodelling was not investigated in C. australis. Where investigated in C. alboguttata, total protein and phospholipid content, and citrate synthase (CS) and cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) activities in tissues and mitochondria mostly did not change with aestivation in liver. In skeletal muscle, however, CS and CCO activities, mitochondrial and tissue phospholipids, and mitochondrial protein decreased with aestivation. These decreases in muscle indicate that skeletal muscle mitochondrial content may decrease during aestivation. Na⁺K⁺ATPase activity of both frog species showed no effect of aestivation. In C. alboguttata different fat diets had a major effect on both tissue and mitochondrial phospholipid composition indicating an ability to remodel membrane composition that is not utilised in aestivation. Therefore, changes in lipid composition associated with some aestivating snails do not occur during aestivation in these Australian frogs.