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Change of cardiac function, but not form, in postprandial pythons
Bjarke Jensen1, Casper Kornbech Larsen, Jan Møller Nielsen
1Department of Biological Sciences, Zoophysiology, Aarhus University, Denmark. bjarke.jensen@biology.au.dk
Summary
Postprandial cardiac growth in pythons may not be obligatory, as heart size did not change despite increased metabolism after large meals. A small right-to-left shunt was observed during digestion in pythons.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Comparative Biology
- Herpetology
Background:
- Pythons exhibit significant postprandial cardiac growth and elevated cardiac output.
- The role of cardiac morphology changes and shunting in reptilian digestion is under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in ventricular morphology during the digestive period in pythons.
- To quantify the cardiac right-to-left shunt in pythons post-feeding.
Main Methods:
- Assessed ventricular mass and dimensions in two python species (Python regius, Python molurus) after feeding.
- Measured cardiac right-to-left shunt in Python regius using atrial and aortic oxygen concentrations.
Main Results:
- Despite increased metabolism and digestive organ mass, no significant changes in ventricular mass or dimensions were observed in either species.
- A negligible shunt in fasting pythons increased to 10-15% during digestion, which is low compared to other reptiles.
Conclusions:
- Postprandial cardiac growth in pythons appears to be facultative, not obligatory.
- The observed shunt levels do not support the hypothesis that shunts facilitate digestion in reptiles.
