Advertisement
Journal Articles
Myoglobin in pelagic small cetaceans
M.L. Dolar, P. Suarez, P.J. Ponganis, G.L. Kooyman
Journal of Experimental Biology 1999 202: 227-236;

Summary

Although myoglobin (Mb) is considered to contribute significantly to the oxygen and diving capacity of marine mammals, few data are available for cetaceans. Cetacean by-catch in the tuna driftnet fisheries in the Sulu Sea, Philippines, afforded the opportunity to examine Mb content and distribution, and to determine muscle mass composition, in Fraser's (Lagenodelphis hosei) and spinner (Stenella longirostris) dolphins and a pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata). Age was estimated by body length determination. Stomach contents were analyzed for the presence or absence of milk and solid foods. It was hypothesized (a) that Mb concentration ([Mb]) would be higher in Fraser's and spinner dolphins than in other small cetaceans because of the known mesopelagic distribution of their prey, (b) that [Mb] would vary among different muscles according to function during diving, and (c) that [Mb] would increase with age during development. The results were as follows. (1) Myoglobin concentrations of the longissimus muscle in adult Fraser's (6.8-7.2 g 100 g-1 muscle) and spinner (5–6 g 100 g-1 muscle) dolphins and in an immature pygmy killer whale (5.7 g 100 g-1 muscle) were higher than those reported previously for small cetaceans. (2) [Mb] varied significantly among the different muscle types in adult dolphins but not in calves; in adults, swimming muscles had significantly higher [Mb] than did non-swimming muscles, contained 82–86 % of total Mb, and constituted 75–80 % of total muscle mass. (3) Myoglobin concentrations in Fraser's and spinner dolphins increased with size and age and were 3–4 times greater in adults than in calves. The high Mb concentrations measured in the primary locomotory muscles of these pelagic dolphins are consistent with the known mesopelagic foraging behaviour of Fraser's and spinner dolphins and suggest that the pygmy killer whale is also a deep-diving species. The high Mb concentrations in epaxial, hypaxial and abdominal muscle groups also support the primary locomotory functions suggested for these muscles in other anatomical studies. As in other species, the increase in [Mb] during development probably parallels the development of diving capacity.

REFERENCES

    1. Blessing, M. H.
    (1972). Studies on the concentration of myoglobin in the sea-cow and porpoise. Comp. Biochem. Physiol 41, 475–.
    OpenUrlCrossRef
    1. Blessing, M. H. and
    2. Hartschen-Nieyemeyer, E.
    (1969). Uber den Myoglobingehalt der Herz-und Skelettmuskulatur insbesondere eineger mariner Sauger. Z. Biol 116, 302–.
    OpenUrlPubMed
    1. Castellini, M. A. and
    2. Somero, G. N.
    (1981). Buffering capacity of vertebrate muscle: correlations with potentials for anaerobic function. J. Comp. Physiol 143, 191–.
    OpenUrl
    1. Davis, M. B. and
    2. Guderly, H.
    (1990). Biochemical adaptations to diving in the common murre, Uria aalgae and the Atlantic puffin, Fratercula arctica. J. Exp. Zool 253, 235–.
    OpenUrlCrossRef
    1. Eichelberger, L.,
    2. Fetcher, E. S.,
    3. Geiling, E. M. K. and
    4. Vos, B. J.
    (1939). Muscle and blood hemoglobin in the dolphin. Science 90, 443–.
    OpenUrlFREE Full Text
    1. Haggblom, L.,
    2. Terwilliger, R. C. and
    3. Terwilliger, N. B.
    (1988). Changes in myoglobin and lactate dehydrogenase in muscle tissues of a diving bird, the pigeon guillemot, during maturation. Comp. Biochem. Physiol 91, 273–.
    OpenUrl
    1. Hui, C. A.
    (1987). Power and speed of swimming of dolphins. J. Mammal 68, 126–.
    OpenUrlCrossRef
    1. Keijer, E. and
    2. Butler, P. J.
    (1982). Volumes of the respiratory and circulatory systems in tufted and mallard ducks. J. Exp. Biol 101, 213–.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    1. Kooyman, G. L.,
    2. Castellini, M. A.,
    3. Davis, R. W. and
    4. Maue, R. A.
    (1983). Aerobic diving limits of immature Weddell seals. J. Comp. Physiol 151, 171–.
    OpenUrl
    1. Kooyman, G. L. and
    2. Ponganis, P. J.
    (1998). The physiological basis of diving to depth: birds and mammals. Annu. Rev. Physiol 60, 19–.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
    1. Kooyman, G. L.,
    2. Wahrenbrock, E. A.,
    3. Castellini, M. A.,
    4. Davis, R. A. and
    5. Sinnett, E. E.
    (1980). Aerobic and anaerobic metabolism during voluntary diving in Weddell seals: Evidence of preferred pathways from blood chemistry and behavior. J. Comp. Physiol 138, 335–.
    OpenUrl
    1. Lenfant, C.,
    2. Johansen, K. and
    3. Torrance, J. D.
    (1970). Gas transport and oxygen storage capacity in some pinnipeds and the sea otter. Respir. Physiol 9, 227–.
    OpenUrl
    1. Man'kovskaya, I. N.
    (1975). The content and distribution of myoglobin in muscle tissue of Black Sea dolphins. J. Evol. Biochem. Physiol 11, 221–.
    OpenUrl
    1. Neshumova, T. V. and
    2. Cherepanova, V. A.
    (1984). Blood supply and myoglobin stocks in muscles of the seal (Pusa siberica) and muskrat (Ondatra zibethica). J. Evol. Biochem. Physiol 20, 282–.
    OpenUrl
    1. Pabst, D. A.,
    2. Rommel, S. A.,
    3. McLellan, W. A.,
    4. Williams, T. M. and
    5. Rowles, T. K.
    (1995). Thermoregulation of the intra-abdominal testes of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) during exercise. J. Exp. Biol 198, 221–.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    1. Pattengale, P. J. and
    2. Holloszy, J. O.
    (1967). Augmentation of skeletal muscle myoglobin by a program of treadmill running. Am. J. Physiol 213, 783–.
    OpenUrl
    1. Ponganis, P. J.,
    2. Costelo, M. L.,
    3. Starke, L. N.,
    4. Mathieu-Costello, O. and
    5. Kooyman, G. L.
    (1997). Structural and biochemical characteristics of locomotory muscles of emperor penguins, Aptenodytes forsteri. Respir. Physiol 109, 73–.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
    1. Rehunen, S. and
    2. Harkonen, M.
    (1980). High-energy phosphate compounds in human slow-twitch muscle fibers. Scand. J. clin. Lab. Invest 40, 45–.
    OpenUrlPubMedWeb of Science
    1. Reynafarje, B.
    (1963). Simplified method for the determination of myoglobin. J. Lab. Clin. Med 61, 38–.
    1. Ridgway, S. H. and
    2. Johnston, D. G.
    (1966). Blood oxygen and ecology of porpoises of three genera. Science 151, 456–.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    1. Rommel, S. A.,
    2. Pabst, D. A.,
    3. Mclellan, W. A.,
    4. Mead, J. G. and
    5. Potter, C. W.
    (1992). Anatomical evidence for a countercurrent heat exchanger associated with dolphin testes. Anat. Rec 232, 150–.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
    1. Scholander, P. F.,
    2. Irving, L. and
    3. Grinnell, S. W.
    (1942). Aerobic and anaerobic changes in seal muscles during diving. J. Biol. Chem 142, 431–.
    OpenUrlFREE Full Text
    1. Shenk, J. H.,
    2. Hall, J. L. and
    3. King, H. H.
    (1934). Spectrophotometric characteristics of hemoglobins. J. Biol. Chem 105, 741–.
    OpenUrlFREE Full Text
    1. Smith, G. J. D.,
    2. Browne, K. W. and
    3. Gaskin, D. E.
    (1976). Functional myology of the harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena (L.). Can. J. Zool 54, 716–.
    OpenUrlPubMed
    1. Snyder, G. K.
    (1983). Respiratory adaptations in diving mammals. Respir. Physiol 54, 269–.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
    1. Stephenson, R.,
    2. Turner, D. L. and
    3. Butler, P. J.
    (1989). The relationship between diving activity and oxygen storage capacity in the tufted duck (Aythya fuligula). J. Exp. Biol 141, 265–.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    1. Strickler, T. L.
    (1980). The axial musculature of Pontoporia blainvillei, with comments on the organization of its system and its effects on fluke-stroke dynamics in the Cetacea. Am. J. Anat 157, 49–.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
    1. Turner, D. L. and
    2. Butler, P. J.
    (1988). The aerobic capacity of swimming muscles in the tufted duck Aythya fuligula. J. Exp. Biol 135, 445–.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    1. Weber, R. E.,
    2. Hemmingsen, E. A. and
    3. Johansen, K.
    (1974). Functional and biochemical studies of penguin myoglobin. Comp. Biochem. Physiol 49, 197–.
    OpenUrlCrossRef
    1. Whipple, G. H.
    (1926). The hemoglobin of striated muscle. Am. J. Physiol 76, 693–.
    OpenUrl
    1. Wittenberg, B. A. and
    2. Wittenberg, J. B.
    (1989). Transport of oxygen in muscle. Annu. Rev. Physiol 51, 857–.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
Back to top

 Download PDF

Email
Journal Articles
Myoglobin in pelagic small cetaceans
M.L. Dolar, P. Suarez, P.J. Ponganis, G.L. Kooyman
Journal of Experimental Biology 1999 202: 227-236;
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
Citation Tools
Alerts

Article navigation

Other journals from The Company of Biologists

Advertisement

Meet the team at SICB – 3-7 January 2020

Meet the Journal of Experimental Biology team at the SICB 2020 meeting in Austin, Texas! News & Views Editor Kathryn Knight and Reviews Editor Stefan Galander will be at booth 507, along with a selection of JEB goodies including the 2020 Calendar, 2019 Highlights booklet and new JEB T-shirts.

Springy bamboo poles help villagers carry more than their own body weight

One of the villagers walking with a flexible bamboo pole

People in Southeast Asia often carry extremely heavy loads suspended from a bouncy bamboo pole slung over one shoulder. It turns out that they adjust their stride to bounce in time with the pole, allowing them to save 20% of their energy. Read more.

Two-year pilot transitional open access agreement

We are excited to announce a two-year pilot transitional open access agreement with Jisc from January 2020. Researchers at participating institutions will have unlimited access to The Company of Biologists’ three subscription journals and will be able to publish their research papers open access. Find out more.

Commentary — The utility and determination of Pcrit in fishes

Gordon Ultsch and Matthew Regan outline why Pcrit is a useful and informative comparator of hypoxia tolerance in fishes, provided it is determined using standardized respirometry methods and sound statistical approaches.

Where will your research take you?

Early-career researchers can apply for up to £2,500 to offset the cost of travel and expenses to make collaborative visits to other labs around the world. Read about Pierre’s experience in Greenland, where he continued research into the Greenland Shark’s remarkable longevity.