Freeze tolerance and cryoprotectant synthesis of the Pacific Tree Frog Hyla regilla

Freeze tolerance and cryoprotectant synthesis was examined in Hyla regilla, collected from Northern California in the spring and fall. Specimens froze n at 2 C for six and 12 hours had a survival rate of 10% and 80%, respectiv ely, in both seasons. This is the first report of freeze tolerance for H. r egilla Freezing caused a fivefold increase in plasma glucose levels in the spring and a 14-fold increase in the fall. Ice formation induced a rise in liver glucose and glycerol production in both seasons with concentrations o f liver glucose being greater in the fall than in the spring. The increase in glucose was accompanied by a significant decline in liver glycogen. Seas onal differences in muscle glycogen levels in response to freezing were not shown, suggesting that the liver is the organ responsible for cryoprotecta nt synthesis. The rise in plasma glucose, along with increased levels of li ver glucose and glycerol in response to freezing; suggests that these compo unds are being used as cryoprotectants, with glucose being the primary comp onent.