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Science 1 October 2004:
Vol. 306. no. 5693, p. 77
DOI: 10.1126/science.1100763
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Brevia

Maintained Cardiac Pumping in Anoxic Crucian Carp

Jonathan A. W. Stecyk,1* Kåre-Olav Stensløkken,2 Anthony P. Farrell,1 Göran E. Nilsson2

Like most vertebrates, humans die within minutes when deprived of molecular oxygen (anoxia), in part because of cardiac failure. In contrast, some freshwater turtles can survive anoxia for months at low temperatures, but to do so, they drastically suppress cardiac activity and autonomic cardiovascular control. Although Carassius carassius, the crucian carp, shares this anoxia tolerance, we show that it has a unique ability among vertebrates to retain normal cardiac performance and autonomic cardiovascular regulation for at least 5 days of anoxia. These responses point to an unusual tolerance of a vertebrate heart and autonomic nervous system to prolonged anoxia.

1 Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby V5A 1S6, Canada.
2 Physiology Programme, Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Oslo, Post Office Box 1041, N-0316, Oslo, Norway.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jstecyk{at}interchange.ubc.ca

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Highlights from the literature.
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Physiology 20, 3-9
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ANOXIA NOT A REAL HEARTBREAKER.
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