During periods of high activity, such as flight, insects produce lactate in their muscle tissues due to anaerobic respiration. This leads to an increase in the rate of oxygen diffusion into the muscle cells.
Which of the following explains this adaptation?
Lactate increases the water potential of the muscle cells, causing water to move into the tracheoles by osmosis, which increases the surface area for gaseous diffusion.
Lactate lowers the water potential of the muscle cells, causing fluid to be drawn from the tracheoles into the muscles by osmosis, which reduces the diffusion distance through liquid.
Lactate enters the tracheoles, lowering their water potential and drawing air deeper into the tracheal system by osmosis.
Lactate stimulates the spiracles to close, increasing the pressure inside the tracheal system and forcing oxygen into the muscles more quickly.
