Respiratory function of blood in hibernating and non-hibernating hedgehogs

Abstract

The oxygen half saturation pressure (P50), 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3 DPG) concentration and other variables have been measured in the blood of hibernating and non-hibernating hedgehogs. The P50 at 37 °C and pH 7.4 was 33 mm Hg in hibernating animals as compared to 41 mm Hg in the control group. The concentration of 2,3 DPG decreases by 25% during hibernation from 1.82 M 2,3 DPG/M Hb4 in non-hibernating to 1.46 M 2,3 DPG/M Hb4 in hibernating specimens. Experiments with dialyzed Hb solution show that the change in organic phosphate concentration during hibernation is responsible for the increased oxygen affinity of the blood. Central body temperature was +6 °C at an ambient temperature of +4 °C. Using a temperature coefficient of 0.017 A log PO2/AT we calculated the P50 to be 9.9 mm Hg at a body temperature of +6 °C. © 1975.