Static inflation and deflation pressure–volume curves from excised lungs of marine mammals

Excised lungs from eight marine mammal species [harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus), harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), gray seal (Halichoerus grypush), Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus), common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), long-finned pilot wha...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Experimental Biology
Main Authors: Fahlman, Andreas, Loring, Stephen H., Ferrigno, Massimo, Moore, Colby, Early, Greg, Niemeyer, Misty, Lentell, Betty, Wenzel, Frederic, Joy, Ruth, Moore, Michael J.
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: Company of Biologists 2011
Subjects:
Research Articles
harbor seal
Harp Seal
Pagophilus groenlandicus
Phoca vitulina
Phocoena phocoena
Online Access:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3202515
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22031747
https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.056366
Description
Summary:Excised lungs from eight marine mammal species [harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus), harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), gray seal (Halichoerus grypush), Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus), common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) and harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)] were used to determine the minimum air volume of the relaxed lung (MAV, N=15), the elastic properties (pressure–volume curves, N=24) of the respiratory system and the total lung capacity (TLC). Our data indicate that mass-specific TLC (sTLC, l kg–1) does not differ between species or groups (odontocete vs phocid) and agree with that estimated (TLCest) from body mass (Mb) by applying the equation: TLCest=0.135 Mb0.92. Measured MAV was on average 7% of TLC, with a range from 0 to 16%. The pressure–volume curves were similar among species on inflation but diverged during deflation in phocids in comparison with odontocetes. These differences provide a structural basis for observed species differences in the depth at which lungs collapse and gas exchange ceases.

Similar Items