liver mitochondrial and whole-animal level metabolic compensation in a catfish during seasonal acclimatization

To examine whether metabolic compensation during seasonal acclimatization at the liver mitochondrial level is consistent with that at the whole-animal level, respiration rates of liver mitochondria and resting metabolic rates in winter- and summer- acclimatized southern catfish (Silurus meridionalis Chen) were measured. At 12.5, 17.5, 22.5, 27.5 and 32.5°C, the mean values of state 3 respiration rates were 12.21, 13.84, 18.96, 24.78 and 32.01 nmol O2 min-1 mg-1 mitochondrial protein in the winter group, and 8.56, 9.20, 17.32, 22.74 and 26.32 nmol O2 min-1 mg-1 in the summer group, respectively. At the five assay temperatures the resting metabolic rates were 24.86, 42.68, 61.59, 84.10 and 125.65 mg O2 h-1 kg-1 body mass in the winter group, and 22.89, 40.59, 52.94, 75.13 and 109.35 mg O2 h-1 kg-1 in the summer group, respectively. Total mitochondrial respiration rates in the liver organ were estimated based on state 3 respiration rates, mitochondrial protein content and organ mass, and the mean values were 72.96, 71.87, 112.47, 167.35 and 183.27 nmol O2 min-1 in the winter group, and were 47.89, 47.39, 105.67, 138.18 and 132.29 nmol O2 min-1 in the summer group, respectively. Metabolic compensation caused by seasonal acclimatization occurred at the liver mitochondrial level and compensation at the liver organ level was found to be more efficient because of an increase in metabolic capacity of mitochondria and a boost in organ mass. Metabolic compensation at the whole-animal level was not detected. During seasonal acclimatization, the effect of metabolic compensation at liver mitochondrial level is inconsistent with that at the whole-animal level in the southern catfish. This may be due to different degrees of regulation of metabolic mechanisms among various tissues and organs in an acclimatized organism [Current Zoology 57 (1): 109–115, 2011].