COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF RESPIRATORY FUNCTION OF MAMMALIAN BLOOD .V. INSECTIVORA - SHREW, MOLE AND NONHIBERNATING AND HIBERNATING HEDGEHOG

Blood oxygen capacity and affinity were studied in 11 shrews, 6 moles, 10 nonhibernating and 6 hibernating hedgehogs. Average oxygen capacities were 21.7, 22.4,19.0 and 14.4 ml O2/100 ml blood respectively. Average oxygen half saturation pressures at 37 °C and pH 7.40 were 37,24,36 and 23 mm Hg respectively. The Bohr factors at 37 °C (Δ log PO2/Δ pH) were -0.63, -0.47, -0.49 and -0.45 respectively. The CO2 content of blood equilibrated with 40 mm Hg CO2 and 200 mm Hg O2 pressures was around 40 ml per 100 ml blood in moles and 25 in nonhibernating hedgehogs, whereas in hibernating hedgehogs this value was 36 ml CO2. The temperature factor of the oxygen half saturation pressure in the blood of hibernating hedgehogs (examined between 39 and 4.5°C was 0.0167 Δ logPO2/Δ°C. Red cell count was 11.5, 9.8, 8.6 and 7.7 millions/mm3, and haematocrit was 35.5, 47.2, 47.0 and 33.2% respectively. The red cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in the shrew is 48%, and in the mole 37%, in the hibernating and nonhibernating hedgehog 32-33 %. The weight difference between hibernating and nonhibernating hedgehogs was 24%. Their heart rate while hibernating was 2-6/min and their respiratory rate 1-3/min. In nonhibernating hedgehogs these data were 160/min and 55/min respectively. © 1969.