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Thermal adaptations in lizard muscle function.

H B John-Alder, A F Bennett

    Journal of Comparative Physiology. B, Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology
    |January 1, 1987
    PubMed
    Summary
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    This study examined thermal adaptations in lizard muscle contractile properties. While some muscle functions showed adaptation to preferred body temperatures (PBT), overall muscle capacity was not optimized for PBT across species.

    Area of Science:

    • Herpetology
    • Physiological Ecology
    • Muscle Physiology

    Background:

    • Lizards exhibit diverse preferred body temperatures (PBT) influencing physiological processes.
    • Muscle contractile properties are key to locomotion and thermoregulation in ectotherms.
    • Understanding thermal adaptations in muscle function is crucial for predicting species responses to environmental change.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate thermal adaptations in muscle contractile properties of Australian skinks (Sphenomorphus group).
    • To compare muscle performance across species with distinct preferred body temperatures (PBT).
    • To determine if muscle functional capacities are optimized at PBT.

    Main Methods:

    • Measurement of isometric contractile properties of the iliofibularis muscle in three lizard species.

    Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of tetanic tension (Po), twitch tension (Pt), time to peak tension (TPT), and half-relaxation time (1/2 RT).
  • Assessment of thermal limits and rates of tension development (dPo/dt) and shortening velocity (Vmax).

    • Main Results:

    • Translational adaptations observed in isometric factors like tetanic tension and twitch properties.
    • No significant capacity adaptations found in rates of tension development or maximal shortening velocity.
    • Thermal response limits were approximately 5°C higher in the warmer-adapted species (Ctenotus).

    Conclusions:

    • Muscle contractile properties show some adaptive shifts related to thermal niche.
    • Adaptations are evident in isometric measures but not in dynamic or capacity measures.
    • Muscle function is not fully optimized or equalized at the preferred body temperature (PBT) across these lizard species.