Oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity of a terrestrially hibernating hatchling turtle.

Abstract

Hatchlings of the painted turtle, Chrysemys picta, hibernate terrestrially and can survive subfreezing temperatures by supercooling or by tolerating the freezing of their tissues. Whether supercooled or frozen, an ischemic hypoxia develops because tissue perfusion is limited by low temperature and/or freezing. Oxidative stress can occur if hatchlings lack sufficient antioxidant defenses to minimize or prevent damage by reactive oxygen species. We examined the antioxidant capacity and indices of oxidative damage in hatchling C. picta following survivable, 48 h bouts of supercooling (-6 degrees C), freezing (-2.5 degrees C), or hypoxia (4 degrees C). Samples of plasma, brain, and liver were co..