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Fenitrothion, an organophosphate, affects running endurance but not aerobic capacity in fat-tailed dunnarts (Sminthopsis crassicaudata)
journal contribution
posted on 2008-07-01, 00:00 authored by William Buttemer, P Story, K Fildes, R Baudinette, Lee AstheimerLee AstheimerWe measured aerobic metabolism during cold exposure and exercise performance (run duration and oxygen consumption while running at 1 m s−1) in the fat-tailed dunnart Sminthopsis crassicaudata, a dasyurid marsupial, before and after ingestion of 30 mg kg−1 of fenitrothion, an organophosphate (OP) pesticide. Running endurance of OP-exposed animals was less than half that of control animals over the first 3 days after dosing and 55% of control animal endurance on day 5 post-dose. Despite these declines, peak metabolic rate at this running speed (9.3 times basal metabolic rate; BMR) was unaffected by OP exposure. Peak metabolic rate (PMR) and cumulative oxygen consumption during a 1-h exposure to conditions equivalent to −20 °C did not differ between OP-treated and control dunnarts, with PMR averaging 11 times BMR. We conclude that fenitrothion-induced exercise fatigue is not due to limitations in oxygen or substrate delivery to muscle or in their uptake per se, but more likely relates to decreased ability to sustain high-frequency neuromuscular function. The persistence of locomotor impairment following OP exposure in otherwise asymptomatic animals emphasizes the importance of using performance-based measures when characterising sublethal effects of pesticide exposure in an ecological context.
History
Journal
ChemosphereVolume
72Issue
9Pagination
1315 - 1320Publisher
ElsevierLocation
Amsterdam, The NetherlandsPublisher DOI
ISSN
0045-6535eISSN
1879-1298Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2008, ElsevierUsage metrics
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