Blood rheology in the pigeon ( Columba livia ), hen ( Gallus gallus domesticus ), and black-headed gull ( Larus ridibundus )

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Viscor, G., Fuentes, J., Palomeque, J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1984
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Black-headed Gull; Larus ridibundus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z84-312; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z84-312

The hemorheological characteristics of three birds with different activity levels were analyzed: the pigeon, a powerful flapping flyer, the black-headed gull, a gliding bird, and the hen, a nonflyer. The apparent viscosity of blood of the hen, owing to its small hematocrit (Hc = 32%), was lower than that of the two others. On the other hand, the pigeon (Hc = 52%) and the gull (Hc = 42%) gave similar values in blood viscosity principally as a consequence of the smaller amount of plasma proteins (particularly fibrinogen) in the pigeon (3.5 g/dL) compared with the gull (5.8 g/dL). Measurements of viscosity at a fixed hematocrit of 40% were performed in normal and hardened erythrocytes suspended in different media. The results showed slight differences in the rheological behavior of the red cells in the three species and a lower deformability in the red cells of the gull. Erythrocyte deformability was also analyzed by the microfiltration technique. The results were in agreement with those obtained with the viscosimetric method. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility, expressed as a NaCl concentration at 50% of hemolysis, was greater in the pigeon (0.43 g/dL) and gull (0.36 g/dL) than in the hen (0.25 g/dL). The results are discussed in relation to red cell morphology.