THE EFFECTS OF SHORT-TERM COLD-STORAGE UPON ATP AND 2,3-BPG LEVELS IN THE BLOOD OF EUTHERMIC AND HIBERNATING 13-LINED GROUND-SQUIRRELS SPERMOPHILUS-TRIDECEMLINEATUS

1. Whole blood was collected from hibernating and euthermic ground squirrels. 2. Blood from hibernating animals had approximately 50% less ATP and 2,3-biphosphoglycerate (2,3-BPG) than did that from euthermic animals. 3. In euthermic blood subjected to in vitro cold storage, levels of ATP decreased to those observed in hibernators, but 2,3-BPG did not decline significantly. 4. During cold storage of hibernator blood, no significant changes occurred in levels of these organophosphates.