Anaerobic Energy Metabolism in the Tail Musculature of the Australian Yabby Cherax destructor (Crustacea, Decapoda, Parastacidae): Role of Phosphagens and Anaerobic Glycolysis during Escape Behavior

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Abstract
Energy metabolism in the tail musculature of Cherax destructor during escape behavior was studied by examining muscle ultrastructure, maximum activities of catabolic enzymes, changes in metabolites following exercise, and muscle buffering capacity and the effects of exercise on muscle pH. Electron microscopy indicates that the muscle is fast phasic with limited capacity for oxidative phosphorylation. Enzyme profiles suggest the use of anaerobic rather than aerobic metabolism during periods of high work output. In animals exercised to exhaustion, arginine phosphate and anaerobic glycolysis are equivalent in terms of ATP production. However, these ATP sources are separated in time, with only arginine phosphate being used during the initial burst of rapid tail flipping and only anaerobic glycolysis during the second slower and less powerful series of tail flips that follow a period of defensive behavior. Buffering capacity of the tail muscle is low, and accumulation of lactate is accompanied by a significant fall in pH. These features indicate that C. destructor may not normally accumulate high concentrations of lactate during escape behavior in nature.

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