Veterinarska stanica, Vol. 56 No. 1, 2025.
Review article
https://doi.org/10.46419/vs.56.1.1
Oxidation-antioxidation processes and thermal effects on oxidative stress in reptiles
Josip Miljković
; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Ana Shek Vugrovečki
; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Suzana Milinković Tur
; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Dražen Đuričić
; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Sofia Ana Blažević
; Biološki odsjek, Prirodoslovno-matematički fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Siniša Faraguna
; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Ivona Žura Žaja
; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Abstract
Temperature is the most important abiotic factor and has a direct influence on the physiology of the organism, affecting nearly all other parameters of the living environment of organisms. Ectothermic organisms are highly endangered in the current crisis climate, as they are unable to use metabolic heat to maintain body temperature. Reptiles are ectothermic vertebrates that are also susceptible to temperature fluctuations. Metabolism, muscle and nervous system function and reproduction are closely linked to reptile body temperature. To study the effects of temperature on oxidative stress, it is necessary to describe the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and how organisms can prevent oxidative stress. This article describes the oxidation-antioxidation processes and the oxidative stress caused by thermal effects in reptiles. In the metabolic processes of aerobic organisms, ROS are continuously generated as by-products of oxidation-reduction reactions and are not primarily harmful. Furthermore, ROS are essential for many physiological functions, e.g., for energy production and for processes in the immune system. The potential toxicity of reactive oxygen radicals under physiological conditions is prevented by the antioxidant defence system. Oxidative
stress occurs when the balance between oxidation and antioxidation systems is disturbed by excessive amounts of ROS or by the depletion of antioxidants. It is known that the metabolic rate of reptiles correlates with environmental temperature, making them physiologically more sensitive to temperature fluctuations compared to mammals. However, it must be considered that ectothermic organisms have evolved many thermal adaptations through physiological and behavioural measures to mitigate the resulting oxidative stress. However, further research in the fields of ecology, biogeography and evolution is needed to determine the exact effects of temperature on oxidative stress and the resulting changes in life characteristics in wild populations.
Keywords
oxidation-antioxidation processes; thermal effects; oxidative stress; reptiles
Hrčak ID:
316662
URI
Publication date:
11.6.2024.
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