Circadian time dependence of erythropoietic and respiratory responses of Indian garden lizard, Calotes versicolor, to mammalian urinary erythropoietin and thyroxine.

The circadian stage-dependent effects of mammalian urinary erythropoietin (Ep) and thyroxine (T4) on tissue energy metabolism (in vivo and in vitro) and erythropoiesis were examined in the Indian garden lizard. Both T4 and Ep increased erythropoiesis and also affected hepatic and muscle energy metabolism. Although both treatments increased circulating RBC count, irrespective of the timing of the treatment, the maximum erythropoietic stimulation was achieved only in the late photophase (9 hr after light onset, HALO). Hepatic oxygen uptake was significantly elevated at 3 and 9 HALO following in vivo Ep administration and 3, 9, and 15 HALO following in vivo T4 injection. In contrast, in vitro addition of either Ep or T4 to hepatic homogenates of untreated lizards significantly elevated respiratory rate, irrespective of the time of tissue collection. The rate of muscle tissue respiration was statistically elevated when Ep was administered in vivo at 9 and 15 HALO. The oxygen uptake was stimulated by T4 only at 15 HALO. While in vitro addition of Ep to tissue homogenates significantly depressed the respiratory rate of muscle collected at 3 HALO, addition of T4 stimulated oxygen uptake by the muscle tissue collected at 9 and 15 HALO. It is concluded that the effectiveness of Ep or T4 largely depends upon the phase of the organism's circadian system(s).