Thermal dependency of osmolality in gastrocnemius muscles of the reptile, Uromastix hardwickii

Soomro, Mohammad Saleh; Soomro, Rabia Waseem; Soomro, Muhammad Waseem; Soomro, Mohammad Naeem

Thermal dependency of osmolality in gastrocnemius muscles of the reptile, Uromastix hardwickii

2013

Soomro, Mohammad Saleh | Soomro, Rabia Waseem | Soomro, Muhammad Waseem | Soomro, Mohammad Naeem

This study deals with the observation of changes with temperature variations of the seasons in the muscular osmolality in the reptile Uromastix hardwickii. Freshly captured adult animals of both the sexes were used in all the experiments. The gastrocnemius (skeletal) muscles were dissected out and the reptilian buffer solution was used to keep the dissected muscles moist (to avoid any dryness/damage to the tissue) which were used in the experiment. The muscle sample solutions were prepared by heating/drying and incinerating/ashing the musclular tissues, treating with acid and deionized water, respectively. These samples were then used for the estimation of osmolality parameters, i.e. Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl⁻ ions. The average mean values of the osmolality parameters were found to rise significantly (P < 0.05) from peak summer towards peak winter and vice versa. The thermal dependency of these parameters with seasonal variation, studied for the first time in the gastrocnemius (skeletal) muscles of Uromastix hardwickii, displayed changes as the animal passed from one seasonal phase temperature to another. Hence, seasonal thermal changes are invariably associated with the changes in environmental temperature, and are definitely responsible to change the active behavior and homeostasis of these animals from summer towards winter by variations in blood-borne humoral and hormonal substances along with the significant changes in osmolality.

Показать больше [+]