Respiratory properties of whole blood and hemoglobin from the burrowing reptile,Amphisbaena alba
✍ Scribed by Johansen, K. ;Abe, A. S. ;Weber, R. E.
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1980
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 490 KB
- Volume
- 214
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0022-104X
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✦ Synopsis
Respiratory properties of whole blood and hemoglobin solutions have been studied in the burrowing reptile, Amphisbaena alba.
Whole blood is distinguished from that of other squamate reptiles by a n extraordinary high 0, affinity (Ps0 = 12 mmHg a t p H 7.60 and 25°C). The Bohr factor,0, was large a t -0.85 and the n-value was 1.80. 0, capacity averaged 12.0 ~01%.
The molar concentration of erythrocyte ATP was high and twice that of hemoglobin.
Stripped Amphisbaena hemoglobin shows a n extremely high 0, affinity and reduced pH sensitivity compared to whole blood (P,,, = 1 mmHg at pH 7.60 and ZYC, 0 = -0.35, n-value = 2.0). The hemoglobin 0, affinity was much more sensitive to ATP than for other poikilotherm vertebrates.
Isoelectric focusing revealed a multicomponent hemoglobin with the major components showing similar 0, affinities and Bohr shifts.
The data obtained are discussed in relation to the burrowing habits of Amphisbaena and found to be adaptive to a fossorial mode of life.