Acute temperature effects on metabolic rate, ventilation, diffusive water exchange, osmoregulation, and acid-base status in the Pacific hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii).

The Pacific hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii) is a representative of the most basal extant craniates, and is a marine osmoconformer with an extremely low metabolic rate (MO = 475 µmol O/kg/h at 12 °C). We investigated potential physiological trade-offs associated with compensatory changes in gill ventilation and perfusion when 12 °C-acclimated hagfish were acutely exposed to 7 °C or 17 °C, as reflected in diffusive unidirectional water flux ([Formula: see text], measured with tritiated water: HO), net ammonia flux (J), and plasma ion and acid-base status. [Formula: see text] was high (~ 1.4 L/kg/h at 12 °C) in comparison to marine teleosts and elasmobranchs. MO increased linearly with temperature (R = 0.991), and was more sensitive (Q = 3.22) in the 12-7 °C range than either J (1.86) or [Formula: see text] (1.35), but the pattern reversed from 12 to 17 °C (Qs: MO = 2.77, J = 2.88, [Formula: see text] = 4.01). Heart rate, ventilatory index (a proxy for total ventilation), and coughing frequency also increased but with different patterns. At 17 °C, plasma [Ca] and [Mg] decreased, although osmolality increased, associated with elevations in plasma [Na] and [Cl]. Blood pH and PCO were unaffected by acute temperature changes while [HCO] increased. Hyperoxia (PO > 300 Torr) attenuated the increase in [Formula: see text] at 17 °C, did not affect J, and had diverse effects on plasma ion and acid-base status. Our results suggest a clear osmorespiratory compromise occurring for the diffusive water fluxes as a result of acute temperature changes in this osmoconformer.