[Coupling of membranous and metabolic functions in nucleated erythrocytes of Scorpaena porcus L. in hypoxia (experiments in vivo and in vitro)]

Abstract

Effect of hypoxia (diapason of 0.57-8.17 mg O2 l(-1)) on functional characteristics of nucleated erythrocytes of the benthonic marine fish Scorpaena porcus L. was studied under conditions in vivo and in vitro. It has been established that characteristic of cellular system of this species is a balanced unhibition of membranous and metabolic functions under conditions of external deficit of oxygen (experiments in vivo). This is expressed in the ability of cells to maintain within norm the intracellular ATP concentration and transmembrane gradients for Na+ and K+ with low activities of Na+, K(+)-ATPase and hexokinase. This phenomenon seems to be based on the process of a decrease of the number of functioning ion channel at the level of the cell cytoplasmic membrane; this process reduces energy expenditure for maintenance of cationic gradients (the phenomenon of metabolic arrest). The same is also indicated by an increase of intensity of fluorescence of FDA and R123 in the scorpaena erythrocytic suspensions in hypoxia (experiments in vitro). Mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are discussed.