Seasonal variation in haematological and biochemical variables in free-ranging subadult brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Sweden
Abstract Background Free-ranging brown bears exhibit highly contrasting physiological states throughout the year. They hibernate 6 months of the year, experiencing a decrease in body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and metabolism. An increase in food consumption and the resulting weight ga...
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ftbiomed:oai:biomedcentral.com:s12917-015-0615-2 2023-05-15T18:41:56+02:00 Seasonal variation in haematological and biochemical variables in free-ranging subadult brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Sweden Græsli, Anne Evans, Alina Fahlman, Åsa Bertelsen, Mads Blanc, Stéphane Arnemo, Jon 2015-12-08 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/11/301 en eng BioMed Central Ltd. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/11/301 Copyright 2015 Græsli et al. Brown bear Ursus arctos Haematology Biochemistry Seasonality Research article 2015 ftbiomed 2015-12-13T01:11:08Z Abstract Background Free-ranging brown bears exhibit highly contrasting physiological states throughout the year. They hibernate 6 months of the year, experiencing a decrease in body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and metabolism. An increase in food consumption and the resulting weight gain (mostly through fat storage) prior to hibernation are also part of the brown bear’s annual cycle. Due to these physiological changes, haematological and biochemical variables vary dramatically throughout the year. Seasonal changes in 12 haematological and 34 biochemical variables were evaluated in blood samples collected from 40 free-ranging subadult brown bears (22 females, 18 males) immobilised in Sweden in winter (February-March), spring (April-May), and summer (June). Results Higher levels of haemoglobin, haematocrit and red blood cell count, and a lower white blood cell count and mean cell volume was found during hibernation than in spring and summer. Lower values of the enzymes; aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GD) and amylase, and increased values of β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HBA) and blood lipids; triglycerides, cholesterol and free fatty acids, were present during hibernation compared to spring and summer. Conclusions This study documents significant shifts in haematological and biochemical variables in samples collected from brown bears anaesthetised in winter (February-March) compared to in spring and summer (April-June), reflecting the lowered metabolic, renal and hepatic activity during hibernation. Lower values of enzymes and higher values of blood lipids during hibernation, likely reflect a lipid-based metabolism. Article in Journal/Newspaper Ursus arctos BioMed Central |
institution |
Open Polar |
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BioMed Central |
op_collection_id |
ftbiomed |
language |
English |
topic |
Brown bear Ursus arctos Haematology Biochemistry Seasonality |
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Brown bear Ursus arctos Haematology Biochemistry Seasonality Græsli, Anne Evans, Alina Fahlman, Åsa Bertelsen, Mads Blanc, Stéphane Arnemo, Jon Seasonal variation in haematological and biochemical variables in free-ranging subadult brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Sweden |
topic_facet |
Brown bear Ursus arctos Haematology Biochemistry Seasonality |
description |
Abstract Background Free-ranging brown bears exhibit highly contrasting physiological states throughout the year. They hibernate 6 months of the year, experiencing a decrease in body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and metabolism. An increase in food consumption and the resulting weight gain (mostly through fat storage) prior to hibernation are also part of the brown bear’s annual cycle. Due to these physiological changes, haematological and biochemical variables vary dramatically throughout the year. Seasonal changes in 12 haematological and 34 biochemical variables were evaluated in blood samples collected from 40 free-ranging subadult brown bears (22 females, 18 males) immobilised in Sweden in winter (February-March), spring (April-May), and summer (June). Results Higher levels of haemoglobin, haematocrit and red blood cell count, and a lower white blood cell count and mean cell volume was found during hibernation than in spring and summer. Lower values of the enzymes; aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GD) and amylase, and increased values of β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HBA) and blood lipids; triglycerides, cholesterol and free fatty acids, were present during hibernation compared to spring and summer. Conclusions This study documents significant shifts in haematological and biochemical variables in samples collected from brown bears anaesthetised in winter (February-March) compared to in spring and summer (April-June), reflecting the lowered metabolic, renal and hepatic activity during hibernation. Lower values of enzymes and higher values of blood lipids during hibernation, likely reflect a lipid-based metabolism. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Græsli, Anne Evans, Alina Fahlman, Åsa Bertelsen, Mads Blanc, Stéphane Arnemo, Jon |
author_facet |
Græsli, Anne Evans, Alina Fahlman, Åsa Bertelsen, Mads Blanc, Stéphane Arnemo, Jon |
author_sort |
Græsli, Anne |
title |
Seasonal variation in haematological and biochemical variables in free-ranging subadult brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Sweden |
title_short |
Seasonal variation in haematological and biochemical variables in free-ranging subadult brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Sweden |
title_full |
Seasonal variation in haematological and biochemical variables in free-ranging subadult brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Sweden |
title_fullStr |
Seasonal variation in haematological and biochemical variables in free-ranging subadult brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Sweden |
title_full_unstemmed |
Seasonal variation in haematological and biochemical variables in free-ranging subadult brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Sweden |
title_sort |
seasonal variation in haematological and biochemical variables in free-ranging subadult brown bears (ursus arctos) in sweden |
publisher |
BioMed Central Ltd. |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/11/301 |
genre |
Ursus arctos |
genre_facet |
Ursus arctos |
op_relation |
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/11/301 |
op_rights |
Copyright 2015 Græsli et al. |
_version_ |
1766231513645449216 |