Metabolic changes in the subtropical frog Boana pulchella during experimental cooling and recovery conditions

de Amaral, Marjoriane; Von Dentz, Maiza Cristina; Ressel Simões, Leonardo Airton; Vogt, Éverton; Heiermann, Dener; Fischer, Pedro; Colombo, Patrick; Kucharski, Luiz Carlos

doi:10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103705

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…In contrast, we could not find any evidence for the synthesis of glycerol or urea as additional cryoprotectants as, for example, N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS), known to be involved in the urea cycle, was downregulated. Measurements of urea could be included by future studies (80). Consequently, B. bufo might be capable of at least a short-term freeze tolerance which might provide a means in fitness if toads encounter a sudden night freeze, for instance, on their way to their breeding sites after leaving the overwintering shelter.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Between a Warm Winter and a Cold Spell: Physiological Responses to Changing Winter Climate in Amphibians

Schmidt,

Zummach,

Sinai

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Climate change is swiftly altering environmental winter conditions, leading to significant ecological impacts such as phenological shifts in many species. As a result, animals might face physiological mismatches due to longer or earlier activity periods and are at risk of being exposed to late spring freezes. We investigated the physiological responses to warmer winter days and sudden spring freeze in the common toad (Bufo bufo) by acclimating them to 4°C or 8°C for 48 h or exposing them to 4°C or -2°C for 6 h, respectively. We assessed the daily energy demands, determined body condition and cold tolerance, explored the molecular responses to freezing through hepatic tissue transcriptome analysis, and measured blood glucose levels. Toads acclimated to higher temperatures showed a higher daily energy expenditure and a reduced cold tolerance suggesting faster depletion of energy stores and the loss of winter acclimation during warmer winters. Blood sugar levels were higher in frozen toads indicating the mobilization of cryoprotective glucose with freezing which was further supported by changed patterns in proteins related to glucose metabolism. Overall, our study emphasize that increased thermal variability incur physiological costs that might pose a serious threat to breeding adults.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Toads On Ice: Limited Physiological Responses To Sudden Freezementioning

confidence: 99%

Between a Warm Winter and a Cold Spell: Physiological Responses to Changing Winter Climate in Amphibians

Schmidt,

Zummach,

Sinai

et al. 2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Urea and glucose modulation during freezing exposure in three temperate frogs reveals specific targets in relation to climate

de Amaral,

Carvajalino-Fernández,

Nicieza

et al. 2024

Journal of Thermal Biology

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Gluconeogenesis in frogs during cooling and dehydration exposure: new insights into tissue plasticity of the gluconeogenic pathway dependent on abiotic factors

de Amaral,

Von Dentz,

David

et al. 2024

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Anurans undergo significant physiological changes when exposed to environmental stressors, such as low temperatures and humidity. Energy metabolism and substrate management play a crucial role in their survival success. Therefore, understanding the role of the gluconeogenic pathway and demonstrating its existence in amphibians becomes essential. In this study, we exposed the subtropical frog Boana pulchella to cooling (- 2.5°C for 24 h) and dehydration conditions (40% of body water loss), followed by recovery (24 h), and assessed gluconeogenesis activity from alanine, lactate, glycerol, and glutamine in the liver, muscle, and kidney. We reported for the first time that gluconeogenesis activity by 14C-alanine and 14C-lactate converted to glucose occurs in the muscle tissue of frogs, and this tissue activity is influenced by environmental conditions. Against the control group, liver gluconeogenesis from 14C-lactate and 14C-glycerol was lower during cooling and recovery (P < 0.01), and gluconeogenesis from 14C-glutamine in the kidneys was also lower during cooling (P < 0.05). In dehydration exposure, gluconeogenesis from 14C-lactate in the liver was lower during recovery, and 14C-alanine in the muscle was lower during dehydration (P < 0.05). Moreover, we observed that gluconeogenesis activity and substrate preference respond differently to cold and dehydration. These findings highlight tissue-specific plasticity dependent on the nature of the encountered stressor, offering valuable insights for future studies exploring this plasticity, elucidating the importance of the gluconeogenic pathway, and characterizing it in anuran physiology.

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Metabolic changes in the subtropical frog Boana pulchella during experimental cooling and recovery conditions

Cited by 3 publications

References 65 publications

Between a Warm Winter and a Cold Spell: Physiological Responses to Changing Winter Climate in Amphibians

Between a Warm Winter and a Cold Spell: Physiological Responses to Changing Winter Climate in Amphibians

Urea and glucose modulation during freezing exposure in three temperate frogs reveals specific targets in relation to climate

Gluconeogenesis in frogs during cooling and dehydration exposure: new insights into tissue plasticity of the gluconeogenic pathway dependent on abiotic factors

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