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Little is known about whether adaptations to an insular life also involve adaptations in basal corticosterone levels or in the adrenocortical stress response, thus being part of a genetically based island syndrome. However, differences in corticosterone between island and mainland may also be a direct phenotypic response to differences in environmental conditions or may depend on individual characteristics of the animal such as body condition or parental investment. In this paper, we investigated whether insular (Island of Corsica) and mainland (nearby Southern France) blue tits Parus caeruleus populations differed in baseline and handling-stress induced corticosterone levels during the breeding season as a response to biological changes of insular biota. We also examined whether corticosterone levels of both mainland and insular blue tits differed between birds living in two different habitats (summergreen and evergreen oak woods) that differ in food availability and whether individual characteristics affected corticosterone levels. We found (a) differences in baseline corticosterone plasma levels between Corsica and the mainland, independent of regional differences in fat scores, (b) a regional difference in the relationship between corticosterone levels and brood size, (c) a difference in the rapidity of onset of the stress response to handling between habitats, independent of region, and (d) a negative relationship between body fat stores and baseline corticosterone levels independent of region. Reduced baseline corticosterone levels on Corsica may be a component of the insular syndrome, allowing birds to be less aggressive and to enhance parental investment despite higher breeding densities. We suggest that baseline corticosterone levels are only elevated if food availability affects directly the parents. However, when conditions deteriorate unexpectedly (as mimicked by handling stress), food allocation between parents and offspring needs to be re-adjusted in favor of the parents, possibly by increased circulating corticosterone levels. The switch to self-maintenance seems to be modified by the amount of body energy stores.

Low density lipoprotein receptor family members characteristically bind 39-kDa receptor associated protein (RAP). Soluble forms of these receptors have been described in humans including the 515/85-kDa dimeric receptor, low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP/alpha2MR), which is involved in multiple processes including lipoprotein and protease metabolism. Here we demonstrate evolutionary conservation in the generation of these soluble RAP-binding proteins of high molecular weight, by identifying their presence in mammalian, avian, and reptilian sera as well as in the circulating haemolymph of a mollusc. Sera extracted on immobilized RAP, produced bands at approximately 500 kDa in radiolabeled ligand blots by using the LRP/alpha2MR-specific ligand, Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PEA). These findings suggest that circulating RAP-binding proteins with high molecular weight in vertebrates share features of LRP/alpha2MR (LRP-like molecules). RAP-binding molecules in the mammalian serum extracts were further characterized as LRP/alpha2MR homologues in Western blots by using antibodies against the 515-kDa alpha-chain of LRP/alpha2MR. Western blots of mammalian serum extracts using two monoclonal antibodies recognizing the 85-kDa transmembrane beta-chain suggested that a portion of the beta-chain's ectodomain remains associated with the alpha-chain, but the beta-chain's intracellular carboxy terminus is absent. These results are consistent with evolutionary conservation in the generation, composition, and ligand-binding ability of soluble LRP-like receptors and suggest that their presence is a necessary aspect of the receptor's function.

In this review an attempt is made to list the most important events in the search for genetic markers in the blood of animals. In chronological order, blood groups, biochemical polymorphisms, lymphocyte antigens and DNA markers have been discovered and used in practice. Of all practical uses, parentage verification and exclusion are regarded as the most important, and it can be said with pride that the South African Stud Book is as infallible as any other stud book in the world.

Oestradiol-17 beta was measured by radioimmunoassay in cardiac blood from 143 pregnant and post-partum tammar wallabies shot in the wild during reactivation of the diapausing blastocyst, embryonic development, birth and post-partum oestrus. A transient rise in circulating oestradiol on 3 January coincided with or shortly preceded corpus luteum growth and blastocyst expansion; before 5 January mean corpus luteum weight was 14.3 +/- 0.44 mg (n = 65), while thereafter it exceeded 20 mg in two-thirds of the animals. Expanded blastocysts were first noted on 5 January. A second rise in the concentration of oestradiol in plasma, which occurred in late January, preceded parturition and coincided with follicular maturation; the mean (+/- S.E.M.) oestradiol concentration before 17 January was 27.9 +/- 1.10 pmol/1 (n = 110), whereas on or after this date it was 57.3 +/- 4.15 pmol/1 (n = 33). Thus oestradiol levels in peripheral plasma increased at parturition and postpartum oestrus, and showed a rise early in gestation which may be related to the termination of diapause.

Hematologic and serum chemical values were determined for two groups of adult female Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) from New Mexico and Oklahoma. Although considerable variation in values was observed between elk from the same group, the mean values from 16 of the 20 blood parameters tested were significantly different between the two groups. Of these, the most significant variations were observed in values which were likely to be influenced by nutritional condition and health status. The results of this study indicate that when evaluating the health status of different herds kept under known conditions, hematologic and serum chemical values are of optimal significance when the mean values of the herds are compared.

Serum concentrations of chloramphenicol were determined after oral doses (55 mg/kg body weight) were administered to 7-9 day old Holstein-Friesian calves. Chloramphenicol in an oral solution produced greater serum concentrations than did an equivalent dose of chloramphenicol in capsules (P less than 0.005). A second dose of each formulation administered 12 h after the first dose elevated serum chloramphenicol concentrations significantly (P less than 0.001). The average serum chloramphenicol concentration exceeded 5 micrograms/ml of serum 1 h after administration of the solution compared with 4 h for the capsules. Average serum chloramphenicol concentration was greater than 5 micrograms/ml for at least 12 h after the dose was administered for both formulations. Of the eight calves receiving repeat doses of chloramphenicol, seven (87.5%) developed diarrhea in 76 +/- 8.6 h. Six of the eight calves (75%) died during or shortly after the period of chloramphenicol administration.

From normal adult values of about 2.4 g/l at birth, rat plasma fibrinogen levels decrease to a minimum between 10 and 30 days of age and increase again at the end of weaning. The values of fibrinogenemia measured with different methods (heat precipitation at 56 degrees C versus clotting time) disagree. These results are discussed in connection with the development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis.

Serum gastrin concentrations during the first six weeks of life in pigs reared on sow's milk alone were compared with those in pigs given access to solid food at two weeks and weaned at three weeks of age. Gastrin levels were higher in both parturient sows and newborn unsuckled pigs than in dry sows. It appears that the newborn pig is capable of secreting its own gastrin. High levels of gastrin persisted throughout the experimental period, being particularly high in the first two weeks of life. In weaned pigs, feeding after a period of fasting evoked a greater postprandial gastrin response than that which occurred in unweaned pigs after sucking from the sow. The results suggest a possible role for gastrin in early gastric development.

Gonadal and adrenal steroid hormone levels in plasma were measured in pregnant, non-pregnant and fetal armadillos. Progesterone demonstrated the largest placental gradient with levels 6 to 10-fold higher in the fetus. Testosterone levels were higher in male and lower in female fetuses, when compared to the respective maternal serum values. Dehydroepiandrosterone, and cortisol were consistently high in maternal as compared to matched fetal serum samples whereas the reverse was true for androstenedione. Tissue incubations with labelled pregnenolone indicated the major source of progesterone production to be the fetal adrenal whereas the fetal testes demonstrated a major conversion product consistent with dehydroepiandrosterone.

The level of thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) was measured in blood of colostrum deprived calves and piglets and compared with appropriate control animals which were fed colostrum and milk according to a regular farm schedule. In most of cases, the levels of iodothyronines measured were significantly decreased in colostrum deprived (CD) calves between 36 h and 14 d of age. In piglets, the levels of iodothyronines were measured up to 72 h of age only and no remarkable differences were found between controls and CD animals. The concentration of T3 in pig milk after extraction with alkalized ethanol was estimated with radioimmunoassay and, at 1 week after delivery, it was 0.78 +/- 0.084 nmol 1(-1) (n = 10).

Total protein concentrations from a variety of wild mammalian species were measured by the Lowry and Biuret techniques and compared with results obtained or derived by refractometry. Values obtained with the Lowry method were the highest and certain derived refractometry results, the lowest. It is suggested that the Biuret method provides the most acceptable values but that care should be exercised in using the correct standard. The percentage composition of plasma from 22 species of wild mammals is also presented and the observations discussed with relation to methodology and A/G ratio.

Blood from 10 clinically healthy West Indian manatees (8 wild, 2 captive) was analyzed for the common blood chemical substances. No sex differences were found. The results were comparable for the most part to those of the common domestic mammals. Notable exceptions were the anion gaps, and total proteins and A/G ratios which were higher than those for domestic species. Some of these differences were no doubt due to the stress of capture.

In winter, the ratio of serum urea to serum creatinine is 10 or less in denning female and male bears. In midsummer it is 22 or more, similar to that of other mammals. However, in late summer and early fall, while food is available, the urea-to-creatinine ratio approaches or becomes 10 or less. The low value of this ratio appears to indicate the biochemical state of hibernation, and many bears are in this state weeks before they den.

Seventeen serum chemistry analyses were performed on blood collected from captive diamond-backed water snakes. Means, standard deviations, and ranges were calculated for each assay. There was no correlation between the chemistry values and sex or size. The reported values for sodium, potassium, glucose, and total protein fell within the ranges found in the present study, but the values for chloride and blood urea nitrogen were higher, and calcium, bicarbonate, and osmolality were lower. Some snakes had unexpectedly very low serum glucose values which could not be explained by technique or methodology. There was a wide range in enzyme measurements which could be partly due to handling prior to death.

Serum cortisol levels were found to be higher in a group of captive untamed black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) than in a group of tame black-backed jackals. Repeated venipuncture of domestic dogs in an accustomed environment did not result in a rise in serum cortisol levels. Translocation of these dogs to a new environment resulted in a rapid but transient rise in serum cortisol levels.

Definition was given to acid-base balance, erythrocyte variables, serum iron, and several plasma variables in nursing calves, beginning at 1 week of age to 15 weeks of age. Of all the variables measured (once a week), arterial blood pH was the only one for which there was a significant difference due to sex of the calves (female calves had blood slightly more acidic than did male calves). Significant differences due to time were noted for the erythrocyte variables and for plasma potassium and chloride ion and serum iron concentrations. There were no significant changes from week to week for the acid-base balance variables. A significant sex X time interaction was noted for serum iron concentration-after week 6, the concentration of iron in female calves was higher than it was in male calves.

Erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), PO2 50%, whole blood haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Hct) and available O2 were determined in two matched groups of suckling rabbits from the 17th to the 34th day after birth. One group was subjected to repeated bleeding, amounting to 1.0-1.5% of the body weight, on day 17, 19, 22 and 25, while the other served as control. The bleeding group had markedly lower Hb and Hct than the control group, which showed the ordinary post-natal fall in Hb. There were, however, no differences between 2,3-DPG and PO2 50% in the two groups. The changes were essentially the same as observed previously in animals in which the post-natal anaemia was avoided by iron-treatment. Thus, these and previously reported data show that the post-natal rise in 2,3-DPG and PO2 50% within wide limits is uninfluenced by marked variations in Hb, even severe bleeding anaemia, and support the assumption that the post-natal rise in 2,3-DPG and PO2 50% is dominated by processes related to the growth and maturation of the animals.

Composition of ration and season of sampling markedly affected the composition of blood in six tamed bison (Bison bison) steers and eight Hereford cattle (Bos taurus) steers. Observed values extended reported ranges for albumin, phosphorus and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in bison serum. There were several differences between species in blood composition. In particular, erythrocytic and BUN values were higher in bison than in cattle. Overall mean values for bison and cattle receiving experimental rations were, respectively: BUN, 17.1 mg/dl and 14.1 mg/dl; hemoglobin, 17.8 g/dl and 13.3 g/dl; packed cell volume (PCV), 47.6% and 35.6%; red blood cells, 9.3 x 10(6)/mm3 and 8.2 x 10(6)/mm3; mean corpuscular volume (MCV), 51.3 mean 3; mean corpuscular hemoglobin, 18.9 pg and 16.1 pg. The significant changes in blood composition associated with changes in ration composition support the use of blood composition as an index of nutritional status. There were no sex-specific differences in blood of 20 bison from Elk Island National Park and 34 bison from Wood Buffalo National Park, Alberta. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level was higher in juvenile than in adult bison. Impoundment of wild bison for 24 hr was accompanied by a decrease in BUN and an increase in PCV. Wild bison that were killed during handling had significantly higher blood levels of ALP, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, MCV and phosphorus.

The reaction of the Dolichos biflorus lectin with a series of animal bloods is reported. The red cells of 4 species were found to agglutinate from among the 37 different animal species tested.

A total of 1.088 blood samples (1 to 6 per animal) were taken from 491 rearing calves in the colostral period, the milk feeding period and the weaning period (at the age of 4, 22, 51, 79, 105, 122 and 145 days); the hemoglobin content (Hb), the hematocrit (Hc) resp. the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were determined resp. calculated. Hb, Hc and MCHC were drawn in diagrams in dependence on the rearing period as arithmetic means with standard deviations, as quartiles and as frequency distributions on an interval scale. During the rearing periods with milk feeding the anaemic frequency was considerable. Anaemia resp. hypochromia frequency had an inverse relation to the developing increase of concentrated feed and roughage consumption and thus makes it probable that the cause of anaemia is the intake and/or absorption of iron insufficient for the weight gain performance achieved. The consumption of solid feed by the hematologically examined calves developed more quickly than in other GDR rearing farms due to the early ad libitum supply with this feed component and the composition of fluid feed with milk. Reference is made that the frequency of hypoferric anaemia can also be considerable during the milk feeding period in the intensive rearing of lambs and kids if an effective iron intervention is not made.

The aim of this work was to clarify the possible role of blood metabolites (glucose, aminoacids, triglycerides) in the regulation of postprandial blood insulin in the preruminant calf. The animals used were 6 male Friesian bull calves with an average weight of 80 kg. They were divided into groups I and II. During the first experimental period (A), group I received a control diet that contained skim-milk powder as the only protein source, whereas group II received an experimental diet containing fish protein concentrate as the main protein source. During the second experimental period (B), the diets were switched. It was previously shown that the rate of fat and amino acid absorption increased when milk proteins in such milk substitutes were replaced by hydrolyzed fish proteins (Guilloteau et al., 1975). The results showed that during any experimental period in the control group, there was a decrease in the postprandial blood free amino nitrogen. Blood triglycerides exhibited a small increase at 0.5 h after the meal but a large decrease at 1-4.5 h. The meal also resulted in a very large increase in blood glucose with maximal values occurring at 1-4.5 h. Blood insulin showed a large increment at 0.5 h then increased slowly, peaking at 2-3 h. The postprandial increase in blood insulin was less during the first experimental period than during the second one. In calves fed the fish diet, blood free amino nitrogen and blood triglycerides showed a large postprandial increase. Blood glucose exhibited a smaller postprandial increment than in the controls and began to decrease at half an hour. In contrast, the trend of changes in blood insulin was the same as in the controls (i.e. a maximum at 3 h occurring after a large increase at 0.5 h). There were no significant differences in blood insulin between the two experimental periods. It was lower in the calves fed the fish diet than in the controls during the first experimental period; during the second period, it was similar in both groups. From these observations, it may be inferred that, as compared to the control diet, the fish diet resulted in a decrease in glucose stimulation of postprandial insulin secretion; in contrast, the effect of aminoacids and lipids may be increased.