Energy Metabolism of the Virginia Opossum During Fasting and Exercise

Rates of oxygen consumption and CO₂ production were measured in Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) during fasting and prolonged exercise to quantify changes in total energy expenditure and oxidative fuel selection. We hypothesized that fasting would cause metabolic depression and a progressive shift towards lipid utilization to spare alternative substrates. It was also predicted that prolonged exercise would cause the same relative changes in fuel preference as fasting, but on a compressed time scale. The results show that hypometabolism is not used by the Virginia opossum to cope with food deprivation. However, a rapid exhaustion of limited carbohydrate reserves is prevented through a sixfold reduction in the percentage contribution of carbohydrates to total energy expenditure made possible by an increase in lipid utilization. No protein sparing is observed in this species. Prolonged low-intensity exercise elicits a potent mobilization of lipids that allows maximal running time to be extended by delaying the depletion of limited carbohydrate reserves. We conclude that fasting and prolonged low-intensity exercise cause similar changes in the relative use of lipids and carbohydrates, but on a different time scale, supporting the idea that endurance exercise is the metabolic equivalent of ‘accelerated fasting’. The absence of metabolic depression and protein sparing during fasting shows that such physiological strategies have not been necessary for the rapid range expansion towards the North recently shown by this species.