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Increased blood oxygen affinity during digestion in the snake Python molurus

Johannes Overgaard and Tobias Wang*

Department of Zoophysiology, Aarhus University, Building 131, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark



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  		Fig. 1. The relationship between blood oxygen affinity calculated at a pH of 7.6, expressed as logP50, and (A) red blood cell haemoglobin content ([Hb]RBC) as an indicator of cell volume and (B) the relationship between the concentrations of organic phosphates and total haemoglobin ([NTP]/[Hb4] ratio) within the red blood cells. Open symbols represent data from unfed control snakes measured at 0 h and 48 h, while closed symbols represent data obtained from snakes before (0 h) and after (48 h) feeding. Data are presented as means ± 1 S.E.M. (N=9 for postprandial animals and N=4 or 5 for fasting controls).

 


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  		Fig. 2. Predicted blood oxygen dissociation curves in vivo for Python molurus while fasting (broken line) and during the postprandial period (solid line). These blood oxygen-dissociation curves were predicted on the basis of arterial pH in vivo as well as in vitro Bohr effects and blood oxygen affinities (see text for further explanation). The open symbols represent the measurements of arterial oxygen partial pressure (PO2) and haemoglobin-bound oxygen (HbO2) saturations in vivo (given as means ± 1 S.E.M.), while closed symbols represent predicted venous values (circles and squares for fasting and postprandial snakes, respectively). The insert shows the corresponding Hill plots.

 




© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2002