| Grant number: | 15/12156-0 |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation |
| Start date: | October 01, 2015 |
| End date: | September 30, 2016 |
| Field of knowledge: | Biological Sciences - Zoology - Physiology of Recent Groups |
| Principal Investigator: | Luiz Henrique Florindo |
| Grantee: | Natalia Miria Troiano |
| Host Institution: | Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José do Rio Preto. São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil |
Abstract Gravity is a constant force that acts on the Earth's surface in a very relevant way, defining, for example, the weight of each object, and influencing several chemical and biological processes that rule nature as we know it. Therefore, we can affirm that gravity is, undoubtedly, a modulating factor of evolution. Among all biological factors that gravitational force has influence, one of the most important is the dynamics of blood flow, which is possible to observe in a very didactic way in large elongated animals. Lacertilians and ophidians, for example, are susceptible to so-called gravitational stresses, as their elongated cylindrical bodies leave them highly vulnerable to circulatory issues caused by changes in body orientation. Considering a climbing situation, for example, may easily lead to a drastic reduction in blood flow to the brain, accumulating it in body posterior regions, causing serious complications to the individual. Obviously, throughout the evolutionary history of these animals, the ones better adapted to gravitational force were selected and, among these adaptations, we may quote vasoconstriction and expansion, as well as heart rate adjustments. Therefore, when an animal starts climbing, a vasoconstriction occurs in the anterior regions of the body, avoiding blood accumulation on the tail, maintaining a good cephalic flow. Meanwhile, an increase in heart rate is verified to compensate the cardiac output (result of reduced venous return). Mediator's mechanisms and the importance of orthostatic tachycardia are still poorly understood and probably vary according to cardiac physiology of different species. Given that, the objective of the present project is to study the autonomic mediation and the importance of orthostatic-tachycardia in an arboreal species with a three-chamber's heart of low systemic pressure, the lizard Iguana iguana. | |
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