HYDROSTATIC-PRESSURE INDUCES A STATE RESEMBLING HISTOTOXIC HYPOXIA INANGUILLA-ANGUILLA

1. Energy metabolism (substrates, enzyme activities) was studied in wh ite muscle and liver of yellow freshwater eels (Anguilla anguilla L.) exposed for 3 hr to 100 atm hydrostatic pressure in normoxic condition s and at constant water temperature. 2. In the two tissues explored, a decrease occurred in glycogen content (the anaerobic substrate) and a n accumulation of total fatty acids (exclusive aerobic substrate). Con comitant changes in substrate contents, decreased of cytochrome c oxid ase activity and increased lactate dehydrogenase activity were observe d. 3. When complemented with observations (ATP, oxygen consumption) fr om previous studies, results were in agreement with an alteration of a erobic energy production and an activation of the anaerobic pathway. I n fish, hydrostatic pressure appeared to induce a state resembling his totoxic hypoxia.