Hibernation and cold storage effects on phosphates in hamster blood.

Abstract

No significant changes from control levels were found in phosphate fractions of erythrocytes and plasma analyzed in cold-exposed golden hamsters ( Mesocricetus auratus). The effect of depressed temperature on red cells after 3 days of hibernation or storage was reflected in decreased easily hydrolyzable phosphate and increased difficultly hydrolyzable phosphate. These changes were interpreted as probably the result of diminished removal of triosephosphate followed by an increase in phosphorylated hexoses. ADP was not rephosphorylated at a rate equal to the esterification of hexoses by ATP, and a diminution of ATP occurred. Furthermore, significant increases in inorganic phosphate occurred in hibernator's erythrocytes and plasma. These were accounted for in the plasma as the result of phosphatase action on phospholipids. In erythrocytes, the other organic phosphate compounds must contribute to this fraction. Six hours following the initiation of arousal from hibernation, an almost complete return to control values for phosphate fractions was observed.