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Substrate utilization during graded aerobic exercise in rainbow trout.

Jeff G Richards1, Ashley J Mercado, Cheryl A Clayton

  • 1Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1. richarjg@mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca

The Journal of Experimental Biology
|June 29, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Rainbow trout utilize both carbohydrate and lipid for sustained swimming, with equal contributions. High-speed swimming relies primarily on carbohydrate oxidation, with white muscle recruitment and lactate export to red muscle.

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Area of Science:

  • Fish physiology
  • Exercise metabolism
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Understanding fuel utilization in fish muscle is crucial for comprehending their swimming performance and energetic strategies.
  • Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are widely studied models for fish physiology and exercise energetics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the biochemical mechanisms of carbohydrate and lipid oxidation in rainbow trout red muscle during sustained and non-sustainable swimming.
  • To quantify the relative contributions of carbohydrate and lipid oxidation to energy production across different swimming intensities and durations.

Main Methods:

  • Biochemical assays were performed on red muscle tissue to measure enzyme activities (e.g., pyruvate dehydrogenase), metabolite concentrations (e.g., glycogen, acetyl-CoA, carnitine esters), and oxygen consumption.

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  • Fish were subjected to controlled swimming trials at varying percentages of their critical swimming speed (U(crit)) for different durations.
  • Whole-body oxygen consumption was measured to assess overall metabolic rate.

    • Main Results:

    • During initial sustained swimming (30-60% U(crit)), carbohydrate oxidation increased significantly, followed by enhanced lipid oxidation over longer durations (240 min).
    • Non-sustainable swimming (90% U(crit)) showed a sustained high activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase, indicating a strong reliance on carbohydrate metabolism.
    • High-intensity swimming also led to significant depletion of white muscle glycogen and creatine phosphate, suggesting recruitment of white muscle for power and potential lactate export for oxidation in red muscle.

    Conclusions:

    • Sustainable swimming in rainbow trout relies on a balanced contribution from both carbohydrate (approx. 45%) and lipid (approx. 35%) oxidation.
    • Non-sustainable, high-intensity swimming is predominantly fueled by carbohydrate oxidation, with moderate lipid utilization.
    • White muscle plays a significant role in power generation during intense exercise, with lactate potentially serving as an oxidative fuel source in red muscle.