Patterns of energy substrate utilization in overwintering painted turtles, Chrysemys picta

Abstract

The amounts of energy liberating substrates in muscle, heart, liver and total carcass were determined in painted turtles just prior to (early October) and upon arousal from (late March) hibernation. Between the fall and spring samples, total carcass neutral lipids, protein and glycogen were depleted 37.8%, 11.0% and 70.2%, respectively. Total carcass lactate increased 551% in post-hibernatory turtles suggesting an important role for anaerobic glycolysis in producing energy during periods of anoxia. Females used more energy than males; however, the pattern of substrate utilization was similar in both sexes with lipid, protein and glycogen providing 56%, 27% and 17% of the energy, respectively.