Normoxic limitation of maximal oxygen consumption rate, aerobic scope and cardiac performance in exhaustively exercised rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

In fish, maximum O2 consumption rate (ṀO2,max) and aerobic scope can be expanded following exhaustive exercise in hyperoxia; however, the mechanisms explaining this are yet to be identified. Here, in exhaustively exercised rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), we assessed the influence of hyperoxia on ṀO2,max, aerobic scope, cardiac function and blood parameters to address this knowledge gap. Relative to normoxia, ṀO2,max was 33% higher under hyperoxia, and this drove a similar increase in aerobic scope. Cardiac output was significantly elevated under hyperoxia at ṀO2,max because of increased stroke volume, indicating that hyperoxia released a constraint on cardiac contractility apparent with normoxia. Thus, hyperoxia improved maximal cardiac performance, thereby enhancing tissue O2 delivery and allowing a higher ṀO2,max. Venous blood O2 partial pressure (PvO2) was elevated in hyperoxia at ṀO2,max, suggesting a contribution of improved luminal O2 supply in enhanced cardiac contractility. Additionally, despite reduced haemoglobin and higher PvO2, hyperoxia treated fish retained a higher arterio-venous O2 content difference at ṀO2,max. This may have been possible because of hyperoxia offsetting declines in arterial oxygenation that are known to occur following exhaustive exercise in normoxia. If this occurs, increased contractility at ṀO2,max with hyperoxia may also relate to an improved O2 supply to the compact myocardium via the coronary artery. Our findings show ṀO2,max and aerobic scope may be limited in normoxia following exhaustive exercise as a result of constrained maximal cardiac performance and highlight the need to further examine whether or not exhaustive exercise protocols are suitable for eliciting ṀO2,max and estimating aerobic scope in rainbow trout.