Abstract
The reaction rates of Mg-ATPase and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in particulate suspensions of myocardium from three groups of ground squirrels 38 °C, 15 °C and 5 °C; and two groups of rats, 38 °C and 15 °C were determined at incubation temperatures of 38 °, 15 ° and 5 °C. The ATPase reaction rate decreased with decreasing incubation temperature in both control groups. In hypothermic rats (15 °C) the ATPase reaction rate also decreased with decreasing incubation temperature while in hypothermic ground squirrels (15 °C and 5 °C) no significant changes were seen. The SDH reaction rate decreased significantly with decreasing temperature in samples from both control and hypothermic rats. The SDH reaction rate in all groups of ground squirrels was lower at 15 °C than at 5 °C incubation. At low body temperatures in the ground squirrel maintenance of (1) ATPase activity regulates oxidative phosphorylation and (2) SDH minimizes or prevents anoxia by facilitating utilization of oxygen or increasing rate of carbon dioxide release.
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