Hepatic carbohydrate metabolism in <i>Tilapia mossambica</i> (Peters) acclimated to low environmental pH

Abstract

Fresh water fish, Tilapia mossambica (Peters), were exposed to various pH media. O 2 consumption of the fish was suppressed in the pH media on either side of neutrality. Lethal limits of pH were determined to be pHs 3.7 and 10.3. Fish were acclimated to sublethal acidic pH (pH 4.0) and hepatic carbohydrate metabolism was studied on exposure and acclimation. The hepatic tissue of acclimated fish exhibited inhibited glycolysis with an onset of gluconeogenesis. In general, acclimation to acidic pH seems to result in the elevation of the synthetic phase of hepatic carbohydrate metabolism.