Cardiovascular physiology in Antarctic fish

The cardiocirculatory system plays a crucial role in the adaptation of the Antarctic notothenioids. This Research Unit has elucidated the morphofunctional characteristics of the icefish heart and of the bulbus arteriosus of several Antarctic and temperate teleosts. As shown in temperate teleosts, nitric oxide (NO) may exert an important modulation on the mechanical performance of the heart ventricle and B. A. in notothenioids. The study of the crosstalk between NO and Na+/Ca++ ATPase may uncover new aspects of paracrine regulation of myocardial contractility and bulbus arteriosus vasomotion in polar fish.