Antarctic fishes survive exposure to carbon monoxide.
The extensive in vivo conversion of haemoglobin to the carbon monoxide derivative has no discernible effect on the survival of the red-blooded Antarctic fish Pagothenia bernacchii. Analysis of caudally sampled blood of cannulated specimens revealed that reconversion of carbon-monoxy haemoglobin to oxyhaemoglobin was complete within 48 hours. Thus, under stress-free conditions, haemoglobin is not necessary for survival of P. bernacchii. Red-blooded Antarctic fishes can carry oxygen necessary for routine delivery dissolved in plasma, in a similar way to the haemoglobinless Channichthyidae, although they lack the morphological and physiological adaptations which allow the latter to prosper without any haemoglobin.
di Prisco
G
G
Institute of Protein Biochemistry and Enzymology, C.N.R., Naples, Italy.
Macdonald
J A
JA
Brunori
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D005399:Fishes / Q000097:blood*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism
D010108:Oxyhemoglobins; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin; D010100:Oxygen