Changes in pH, Carbonate and Lactate of the Blood of Yearling Kamloops Trout,Salmo gairdneri, During and Following Severe Muscular Activity

Abstract

Alterations in the blood levels of lactate, carbonate, hydrogen ion and hemoglobin following vigorous muscular exercise were studied in yearling Kamloops trout, Salmo gairdneri, over four years.Lactate increased during exercise and during the first 2 hours of rest, returning to the initial level after 6 to 8 hours. Carbonate increased to a maximum during the first 3 minutes of exercise, then dropped precipitously to a minimum far below the initial level after [Formula: see text] hour of rest, later rose to near the initial level at the 4th hour of recovery, maintained this until the 12th hour, but it had decreased again at the 24th hour. Hydrogen ion concentration rose sharply during the first 3 minutes of activity, then fell off to a stable level a little above the initial figure until the end of exercise, after which it fell substantially below initial level and had not completely recovered after 24 hours of rest. A marked decrease in swimming rate occurred after 3 minutes exercise, following the initial rise of carbonate and hydrogen ion concentration.