ERYTHROCYTE METABOLISM IN BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHIN TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS

1. 1. Erythrocyte metabolism in the bottle-nosed dolphin and in man are compared and found to be similar in most regards. 2. 2. Erythrocytes of dolphins and man contain similar concentrations of 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid, ATP and ADP. Dolphin cells contain five times as much DPN and a third as much TPN. 3. 3. Dolphin erythrocytes glycolyze less actively and a greater percentage of the glucose is utilized via the hexose monophosphate shunt. 4. 4. Sodium and potassium concentrations are slightly higher in the dolphin erythrocyte; sodium efflux is less than in the human erythrocyte. 5. 5. No significant differences in the activities of the enzymes of glycolysis, the hexose monophosphate shunt and the phosphoglyceric acid cycle were noted except that dolphin erythrocytes contain several times as much glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. 6. 6. Dolphin hemoglobin migrates on electrophoresis as a single band approximately as human adult hemoglobin and is more alkali stable than human hemoglobin. © 1969.