The importance of glucose for the freezing tolerance/intolerance of the anuran amphibians Rana catesbeiana and Bufo paracnemis

摘要

Several species of terrestrially hibernating frogs, turtles and insects have developed mechanisms, such as increased plasma glucose, anti-freeze proteins and antioxidant enzymes that resist to freezing, for survival at subzero temperatures. In the present study, we assessed the importance of glucose to cryoresistance of two anuran amphibians: the frog Rana catesbeiana and the toad Bufo paracnemis. Both animals were exposed to -2oC for measurements of plasma glucose levels, liver and muscle glycogen content, haematocrit and red blood cell volume. Frogs survived cold exposure but toads did not. Blood glucose concentration increased from 40.35 ± 7.25 to 131.87 ± 20.72 mg/dl (P