Responses of the Respiratory Pumps to Hypoxia in the Rainbow Trout (Salmo Gairdneri)

Abstract

1. Unanaesthetized rainbow trout, when subjected to a lowered Po2 of the inspired water, show an increase in amplitude of pressures recorded from the buccal and opercular cavities. Pressure amplitudes were commonly found to be 0.5 cm of water in resting trout and increased 4- or 5-fold as inspired Po2 was reduced. Differential pressures across the gills also increased with hypoxia. 2. Typically the minute volume in a 400-600 g trout increased from about 0.2 to 0.6 l/kg/min when the inspired Po2 was lowered from 150 to 80 mm Hg, but rose to 1-5l/kg/min at lower Po2. Increased minute volumes are mainly due to increases in stroke volume; respiratory frequency remains fairly constant at Po2 's above about 8o mm Hg. 3. The relation between differential pressure and minute volume is fairly linear over much of the range, but minute volume increases more rapidly than differential pressure. 4. Oxygen consumption of the non-swimming fish increases during hypoxia and is related to the increased ventilation and differential pressure across the gills. 5. Estimates of the oxygen cost of breathing were made from the increased oxygen consumption during hyperventilation. Comparison of these estimates with estimates of the work done, using the pressure and volume measurements, gave figures for the overall efficiency of the pumping mechanism of about 10%.