Lactate distribution and metabolism during and after anoxia in the turtle Chrysemys picta belii

mine the fate of lactate during and after prolonged anoxia, 14C-labeled lactate was injected into turtles after 2 h of a 6-h submergence at 20°C. 14C activities of plasma and chamber water were tested at intervals during anoxia and also in expired air during 39 h of recovery. Partitioning of label in major body compartments [extracellular fluid (ECF), intracel-lular fluid (ICF), and shell] and 14C activity and glycogen in selected tissues (heart, liver, and muscle) were measured after anoxia (n = 7) and after recovery (n = 6). Shell 14C and [lactate] were extensively measured on six anoxic turtles. During anoxia all 14C remained in the animal indicating no urine production. At 6 h of anoxia 47 % of recovered 14C, presumably still as lactate, was in the ECF, 27 % in the ICF, and 30 % in the shell. During recovery, plasma [lactate] fell from 35 to 5 meq, but surrounding water and expired ai