HERVANT F., MATHIEU J., MESSANA G. & BOU C. - 1998 - Severe hypoxia and subsequent recovery in the hypogean isopod Stenasellus virei. Mém. Biospéol., 25: 7-14.

Abstract

The locomotory and ventilatory activities and the intermediary and energy metabolism modifications of the hypogean aquatic isopod crustacean Stenasellus virei were investigated in severe hypoxia (Po2 < 0.03 kPa) and subsequent recovery. S. virei responded to long term experimental severe hypoxia with classical anaerobic metabolism mainly characterized by a decrease in ATP and phosphagen, utilization of glycogen and glutamate, and accumulation of lactate and alanine. Lactate was also largely excreted by this organism, which is unusual for crustaceans in general. Compared to most other epigean crustaceans, the isopod S. virei showed high amounts of stored glycogen and arginine phosphate. These differences in glycogen and phosphagen stores, and the ability to reduce energetic expenditures linked to locomotion and ventilation, extended the survival of S. virei under experimental anaerobiosis.

During recovery, the isopod S. virei showed a higher glyconeogenesis capacity from lactate and a faster and total replenishment of ATP and arginine phosphate levels than epigean crustaceans. Data concerning responses to hypoxia and subsequent recovery in S. virei are similar to those previously obtained with 2 other hypogean amphipods, except that this isopod did not synthesize succinate in anaerobiosis.