Abstract
Tissue capillarity in the gastrocnemius and myoglobin concentrations in the gastrocnemius and heart were determined for hatchling Canada geese, Branta canadensis, following incubation of the embryos under either normoxic ( P o 2 = 120 torr) or hypoxic ( P o 2 = 94 torr) conditions. Similar observations were made on a limited number of hatchling bar-headed geese, Anser indicus, a species native to high altitude. Capillary densities were higher and diffusion distances shorter in the hypoxic Canada geese and the bar-headed geese than in the normoxic Canada geese. The concentrations of myoglobin in the heart and gastrocnemius increased with mass, but not as a function of hypoxia. We conclude that bird embryos respond to hypoxia by increasing capillarity. The increased capillarity is a found in species native to high altitude when incubated under conditions of normoxia and can be induced in species native to sea level by exposure to hypoxia during development.
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