Seasonal serum urea-creatinine ratios in wild and captive American badgers, Taxidea taxus.
1. Blood samples were taken from 22 American badgers in the field during different seasons and analysed for urea and creatinine. 2. The urea-creatinine ratio (U/C) of these animals did not decrease during the winter as previously reported for black bears. This suggests that the badger, unlike the bear, does not demonstrate a winter physiological state of protein conservation. 3. This may be the consequence of intermittent ingestion of protein by the badger during the winter, or due to biochemical mechanisms unique to the bear which allows for protein turnover and resynthesis. 4. Captive badgers fasted in the laboratory during the winter also did not exhibit lower U/C ratios and protein catabolism, compared to a summer fast, thereby supporting the latter hypothesis that badgers do not have an adjustment in protein catabolism during the winter season.
Harlow
H J
HJ
Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie 82071.
Nelson
R A
RA
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000097:blood*; D002335:Carnivora / Q000097:blood*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood*; D012621:Seasons; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood*; D014959:Wyoming
D014508:Urea; D003404:Creatinine