HIGH CORTICOSTEROID LEVELS IN PLASMA OF ADULT AND FOETAL WEDDELL SEALS (LEPTONYCHOTES WEDDELLI)

ABSTRACT Pregnant and non-pregnant Weddell seals and foetuses were found to have very high plasma concentrations of corticosteroids (1–7 μmol/l) that were unaffected by stress. Cortisol comprised most of the corticosteroid in the adult but only 50 % of that in the foetus. The affinity constant (4.30...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta Endocrinologica
Main Authors: Liggins, G. C., France, J. T., Knox, B. S., Zapol, W. M.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: Bioscientifica 1979
Subjects:
Endocrinology
General Medicine
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Weddell
Leptonychotes weddelli
Weddell Seals
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1530/acta.0.0900718
https://eje.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/eje/90/4/acta_90_4_012.xml
Description
Summary:ABSTRACT Pregnant and non-pregnant Weddell seals and foetuses were found to have very high plasma concentrations of corticosteroids (1–7 μmol/l) that were unaffected by stress. Cortisol comprised most of the corticosteroid in the adult but only 50 % of that in the foetus. The affinity constant (4.30–5.53 × 107 l/mol) and specificity of CBG and the MCR (4.5 l/d/kg lean body mass) in adult seals were similar to those of Man. The binding capacity of CBG (1.48–1.86 μmol/l) which is approximately three times that of Man contributed to the high plasma corticosteroid concentrations but the main factor was the cortisol turnover rate of 3670 μmol/d (1.3 g/d) which is the highest value reported in any species.

Similar Items