By depressing energy consumption, anoxia-tolerant animals are thought to compensate for a reduced ability to produce energy during anoxia. Adenosine is an inhibitory neuromodulator in vertebrates and, hence, has the potential ability to depress energy consumption. Ethanol is the main metabolic end product in anoxic Carassius, and the present study shows that the rate of ethanol excretion in anoxic crucian carp (Carassius carassius L.) can be increased threefold by treatment with the adenosine receptor antagonist aminophylline (75 mg/kg). By contrast, the same dose of aminophylline did not increase the rate of routine oxygen consumption during normoxia. It is hypothesized that adenosine acts as a metabolic depressant during anoxia in crucian carp.
Aminophylline Animals