Does altitudinal difference modulate the respiratory properties in subterranean rodents' (Cryptomys hottentotus mahali) blood?

Physiology & Behavior
Marna S BroekmanRoy E Weber

Abstract

Do burrowing mammals that naturally experience hypoxic and hypercapnic conditions exhibit modifications to the blood chemistry at high altitudes? We investigated two populations of the Lesotho mole-rat living at different altitudes in the highlands of the Drakensberg. There was no significant difference between the specimens from 3200 and 1600 m in mean red blood cell count (RCC=8.9x10(6)+/-1.6x10(6) vs. 8.4x10(6)+/-0.95x10(6) mm3, respectively) or packed red cell volumes (haematocrit=0.51+/-0.06 vs. 0.49+/-0.05, respectively). However, blood haemoglobin (Hb) concentration was significantly higher in the high altitude than in the low-altitude specimens (178+/-9 vs. 160+/-16 g/l). The oxygen equilibrium curves of thawed whole blood showed no displacement to the left in the animals sampled at the higher elevation. The data indicate that the oxygen-transporting properties of mole-rat blood do not change markedly with increased elevation and that burrowing mammals are a priori hypoxia-adapted.

References

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Citations

Dec 23, 2011·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Jamie R CraitMerav Ben-David
Jun 15, 2007·Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology·Roy E Weber
Feb 6, 2007·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology·W J van AardtRochelle Buffenstein
Aug 31, 2017·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Roy E WeberNigel C Bennett

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