Metabolic Enzyme Activities Across an Altitudinal Gradient: an Examination of Pikas (genus Ochotona)

Changes in metabolic enzyme activities were examined in three species of pikas that occur over a range of altitudes. Because these closely related mammals live in comparable ecosystems and face similar environmental factors regardless of altitude, modifications of metabolic machinery are probably due to differences in oxygen availability. Citrate synthase (CS), beta-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase (HOAD) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were measured in heart, diaphragm, vastus lateralis, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. Additionally, the activity levels of both M-LDH (skeletal muscle type) and H-LDH (heart type) isozymes were quantified in tissue samples. Pikas from high altitude had greater CS and HOAD activities in heart and diaphragm when compared with pikas from low altitude, while activity levels did not differ in skeletal muscles. The increase in oxidative enzyme activities in tissues with high metabolic demand is thought to enhance oxygen utilization when oxygen availability is low and may reflect greater metabolic demand on heart and diaphragm tissue. Pikas from high altitude were also found to have greater total LDH activities in all tissues examined. High altitude animals had dramatically higher H-LDH activity (2.3-3.8 times greater) while M-LDH activity was more comparable (1.8 times lower to 1.7 times greater) when compared with low altitude animals. High total LDH activity enables pikas to perform short bouts of anaerobic activity, while high levels of H-LDH isozymes may serve to enhance lactate removal and decrease recovery time in animals living at high altitude.