Seasonal variation in various blood indices of the kangaroo rat, Dipodomys panamintinus

Abstract

1. 1. Various blood indices in the Panamint kangaroo rat revealed seasonal fluctuations. The red blood cell count during winter and summer averaged 7.2 ± 1.0 × 10 6 and 9.2 ± 0.2 × 10 6/mm 3 respectively. 2. 2. The mean cell hemoglobin during winter and summer averaged 25 ± 10.8 pg and 18.6 ± 3.7 pg respectively. 3. 3. These fluctuations may reveal a rapid rate of red blood cell destruction during winter in combination with a change in diet, concomitant to this, is an increase in mean cell hemoglobin of the surviving red blood cells.