Abstract
Environmental temperature variations result in physiological compensations in the metabolism of ectotherms. These compensatory mechanisms are manifested at various organizational levels within the organism. Compensatory changes at the cellular level constitute the most fundamental mechanisms involved during the acclimation process. The metabolism of various tissues during temperature acclimation has been the subject of numerous investigations (Prosser, 1967). Hochachka (1967) demonstrated increased activities of various metabolic pathways including the pentose shunt, lipogenesis and glycogenesis during cold temperature compensation. Limited information is available concerning the ultrastructure correlates of tissues in response to temperature variations and temperature extremes. This paper reports some preliminary results concerning the effect of temperature on the ultrastructure of various tissues of ectotherms.Heart, liver, skeletal muscle, and brain tissue were excised from heat killed sidewinders, Crotalus cerastes, as were tissues from C. cerastes acclimated to 20 and 30 C. Prefixation was carried out in 3%, cacodylate buffered glutaraldehyde followed by postfixation in 1%, osmium tetroxide. Acetone dehydration and epon embedment were according to standard procedure.
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