Hydrostatic-pressure and temperature effects on the molecular order of erythrocyte membranes from deep-, shallow-, and non-diving mammals
Little is known about the cellular mechanisms involved in the tolerance of deep-diving marine mammals to hydrostatic pressures that cause serious pathologies when experienced by other mammals. We compared fatty-acid composition, cholesterol content, and the effects of pressure on the molecular order...
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z01-047 2024-05-12T08:03:09+00:00 Hydrostatic-pressure and temperature effects on the molecular order of erythrocyte membranes from deep-, shallow-, and non-diving mammals Williams, E E Stewart, B S Beuchat, C A Somero, G N Hazel, J R 2001 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z01-047 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z01-047 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 79, issue 5, page 888-894 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 2001 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z01-047 2024-04-18T06:54:50Z Little is known about the cellular mechanisms involved in the tolerance of deep-diving marine mammals to hydrostatic pressures that cause serious pathologies when experienced by other mammals. We compared fatty-acid composition, cholesterol content, and the effects of pressure on the molecular order of erythrocyte membranes from deep-, shallow-, and non-diving mammals to determine how these properties may be related to diving performance. Erythrocytes were collected from two deep-diving phocid pinnipeds (northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) and harbor seal (Phoca vitulina)), a relatively shallow-diving otariid pinniped (northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus)), and several nondiving terrestrial mammals (dog (Canis familiaris), horse (Equus caballus), and cow (Bos taurus)). Fatty-acid composition clearly distinguished the phocids from the other species. The monoene content of erythrocyte membranes was substantially lower (3 vs.»20%), whereas the lipid unsaturation indices, the ratio of α- to γ-linolenic acids, and the proportions of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids were substantially higher in the phocids. The cell-membrane cholesterol content was also significantly lower in erythrocytes from the deep-diving phocids (cholesterol:phospholipid ratios 0.20.3) than from most other mammals (1.0). Membranes from the phocids were more ordered than those from the shallow- and non-divers, and were also more sensitive to changes in pressure and temperature. The physiological significance of these differences in cell-membrane structure, which affect the order and sensitivity of cell membranes to hydrostatic pressure, is unknown, but they may be important adaptations that allow repeated and prolonged exposure to great hydrostatic pressure. Article in Journal/Newspaper Elephant Seal harbor seal Phoca vitulina Callorhinus ursinus Northern fur seal Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Journal of Zoology 79 5 888 894 |
institution |
Open Polar |
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Canadian Science Publishing |
op_collection_id |
crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
topic |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
spellingShingle |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Williams, E E Stewart, B S Beuchat, C A Somero, G N Hazel, J R Hydrostatic-pressure and temperature effects on the molecular order of erythrocyte membranes from deep-, shallow-, and non-diving mammals |
topic_facet |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
Little is known about the cellular mechanisms involved in the tolerance of deep-diving marine mammals to hydrostatic pressures that cause serious pathologies when experienced by other mammals. We compared fatty-acid composition, cholesterol content, and the effects of pressure on the molecular order of erythrocyte membranes from deep-, shallow-, and non-diving mammals to determine how these properties may be related to diving performance. Erythrocytes were collected from two deep-diving phocid pinnipeds (northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) and harbor seal (Phoca vitulina)), a relatively shallow-diving otariid pinniped (northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus)), and several nondiving terrestrial mammals (dog (Canis familiaris), horse (Equus caballus), and cow (Bos taurus)). Fatty-acid composition clearly distinguished the phocids from the other species. The monoene content of erythrocyte membranes was substantially lower (3 vs.»20%), whereas the lipid unsaturation indices, the ratio of α- to γ-linolenic acids, and the proportions of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids were substantially higher in the phocids. The cell-membrane cholesterol content was also significantly lower in erythrocytes from the deep-diving phocids (cholesterol:phospholipid ratios 0.20.3) than from most other mammals (1.0). Membranes from the phocids were more ordered than those from the shallow- and non-divers, and were also more sensitive to changes in pressure and temperature. The physiological significance of these differences in cell-membrane structure, which affect the order and sensitivity of cell membranes to hydrostatic pressure, is unknown, but they may be important adaptations that allow repeated and prolonged exposure to great hydrostatic pressure. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Williams, E E Stewart, B S Beuchat, C A Somero, G N Hazel, J R |
author_facet |
Williams, E E Stewart, B S Beuchat, C A Somero, G N Hazel, J R |
author_sort |
Williams, E E |
title |
Hydrostatic-pressure and temperature effects on the molecular order of erythrocyte membranes from deep-, shallow-, and non-diving mammals |
title_short |
Hydrostatic-pressure and temperature effects on the molecular order of erythrocyte membranes from deep-, shallow-, and non-diving mammals |
title_full |
Hydrostatic-pressure and temperature effects on the molecular order of erythrocyte membranes from deep-, shallow-, and non-diving mammals |
title_fullStr |
Hydrostatic-pressure and temperature effects on the molecular order of erythrocyte membranes from deep-, shallow-, and non-diving mammals |
title_full_unstemmed |
Hydrostatic-pressure and temperature effects on the molecular order of erythrocyte membranes from deep-, shallow-, and non-diving mammals |
title_sort |
hydrostatic-pressure and temperature effects on the molecular order of erythrocyte membranes from deep-, shallow-, and non-diving mammals |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
2001 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z01-047 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z01-047 |
genre |
Elephant Seal harbor seal Phoca vitulina Callorhinus ursinus Northern fur seal |
genre_facet |
Elephant Seal harbor seal Phoca vitulina Callorhinus ursinus Northern fur seal |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 79, issue 5, page 888-894 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z01-047 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
79 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
888 |
op_container_end_page |
894 |
_version_ |
1798845263559786496 |