Na+-K+ pump and metabolic activities of trout erythrocytes during anoxia

Metabolic activity in the red blood cells of brown trout was monitored unde r conditions of oxygen depletion and chemically induced anoxia. Although me tabolic activity was reduced during anoxia to one-third of the normoxic val ue, these cells maintained their ATP contents stable and were viable for ho urs in the absence of oxygen. In addition, Na+-K+ pump activity was not dow nregulated when metabolic activity was reduced during ano;da. The compatibi lity of this finding with energy equilibrium and ion homeostasis was invest igated.