Abstract
Oxygen dissociation curves, Bohr effect factors and oxygen capacities of whole blood from 2 lions and 2 tigers were determined. None of the animals was fully grown. Serial determinations were made on blood of one lion repeatedly from 8 to 166 days of age. The mean oxygen tension necessary for 50 % saturation of the blood hemoglobin (including that of the lion cub only at 166 days) was 42.0 mm Hg, expressed at pH 7.40 and 39°C. Mean Bohr effect factors were −0.54 (lion) and −0.565 (tiger). Oxygen capacity averaged 15.8 vol % for the tigers and 19.0 vol % for the lions (including only the 166 day value for the cub). The lion cub showed a slight shift of the curve to the right during the period of observation, and also a progressive anemia during the first two months, with a subsequent increase in hemoglobin levels. If the values reported here represent adult values, these two great cats are unusual in having blood of a much lower oxygen affinity than expected on the basis of body weight. Also the combination of low oxygen affinity and moderately high oxygen capacity is unusual, suggesting a modification of the predicted cardiac output and/or tissue oxygen tension.
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