Patterns of energetic substrate modifications in response to feeding in boas, Boa constrictor (Serpentes, Boidae)

Snakes are interesting examples of overcoming energy metabolism challenges as many species can endure long periods without feeding, and their eventual meals are of reasonably large sizes, thus exhibiting dual extreme adaptations. Consequently, metabolic rate increases considerably to attend to the energetic demand of digestion, absorption, and protein synthesis. These animals should be adapted to transition from these two opposite states of energy fairly quickly, and therefore we investigated mitochondrial function plasticity in these states. Herein we compared liver mitochondrial bioenergetics of the boid snake Boa constrictor during fasting and after meal intake. We fasted the snakes for 60 days, and then we fed a subgroup with 30% of their body size and evaluated their maximum postprandial response. We measured liver respiration rates from permeabilized tissue and isolated mitochondria. From isolated mitochondria, we also measured Ca2+ retention capacity and redox status. Mitochondrial respiration rates were maximized after feeding, reaching approximately a 60% increase from fasting levels when energized with complex I-linked substrates. Interestingly, fasting and fed snakes exhibited similar respiratory control ratios and citrate synthase activity. Furthermore, we found no differences in Ca2+ retention capacity, indicating no increase in susceptibility to mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), and no changes in mitochondrial redox state, although fed animals exhibited increases in the release of H2O2. Thus, we conclude that liver mitochondria from B. constrictor snakes increase mitochondrial respiration rates during the postprandial period and quickly improve the mitochondrial bioenergetics capacity without compromising redox balance.

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Patterns of energetic substrate modifications in response to feeding in boas, Boa constrictor (Serpentes, Boidae)

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References 33 publications

Editorial on Adaptations of nutrient supply organs that fuel the fire of life

Editorial on Adaptations of nutrient supply organs that fuel the fire of life

Feeding effects on liver mitochondrial bioenergetics of Boa constrictor (Serpentes: Boidae)

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