Abstract
During hibernation, the small mammals pass through multiple cold (torpor) and warm (arousal) phases, as well as adaptive changes in red blood cells are vital for an adequate oxygen supply to tissues. Here, we have analyzed the structural and functional indices of red blood cells in little ground squirrels during arousal from hibernation. In a torpid state, a count of red blood cells, HGB and MCH levels in blood were established as not significantly changed, but MCV and HCT decreased, while MCHC and RDW increased as compared to the control. In hibernating animals, the reticulocyte count in blood decreased and the period of erythrocyte elimination in bloodstream was shortened, but the ability to produce the red blood cells remained at the control level. During arousal, the body temperature of 25-30°C was critical for rearrangement of structural and functional parameters of red blood cells. This was evidenced by RDW increase and the tendency to rise in HCT, MCV; high reticulocyte count in blood and extended time of their maturation; increased half-life of red blood cells. When the body temperature was fully normalized, the production of red blood cells was significantly increased due to the reduced reticulocyte maturation time. Probl Cryobiol Cryomed 2020; 30(2): 132–147
Highlights
За умов низьких температур навколишнього середовища та дефіциту харчових ресурсів деякі ссавці впадають у торпідний стан, який називають зимовою сплячкою, або гібернацією
The analysis of red blood cells (RBCs) count in S. pygmaeus blood under deep hibernation revealed no significant differences as compared with the control (Fig. 1A)
A count of RBCs, hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) were not considerably changed, but mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and HCT were significantly reduced, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and red cell distribution width (RDW) were significantly increased as compared with the control
Summary
За умов низьких температур навколишнього середовища та дефіциту харчових ресурсів деякі ссавці впадають у торпідний стан, який називають зимовою сплячкою, або гібернацією. Hibernation is an example of evolutionary adaptation of mammals to extreme living conditions [17] It is characterized by a controlled decrease in metabolic rate, body temperature and other physiological functions (heart rate, lung ventilation), as well as peripheral vasoconstriction [6, 11, 16]. Швидке посилення перфузії кров’ю тканин зимосплячих тварин під час періодичних пробуджень може збільшити ризик пошкоджень внаслідок ішемії-реперфузії в тих ділянках, де температура тканини вже підвищилася, а швидкість кровотока в повному обсязі ще не відновилася. Незважаючи на те, що зміни в споживанні кисню тканинами йдуть паралельно зі змінами в серцевому викиді, легеневій вентиляції, об’ємі крові на периферії, у зимосплячих ссавців при вході та виході з торпідного стану виникає потенційний ризик невідповідності між постачанням і споживанням кисню [14], що у незимосплячих тварин може призвести до розвитку ішемічних і реперфузійних пошкоджень [24]
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