title: Geographic variation in blood plasma protein concentrations of young herring gulls (Larus argentatus) and Caspian terns (Sterna caspia) from the Great Lakes and Lake Winnipeg.
abstract: Relative and total amounts of plasma protein fractions are affected by infections, inflammation, and nutritional and physiological status, and are therefore important health indicators in free-living animals. Our objectives were: (1) to examine intercolony differences in plasma protein fractions in prefledgling gulls and terns; (2) to investigate relationships between plasma proteins and other physiological measures such as weight loss, growth, and immune function; and (3) to examine potential associations between organochlorine exposure and plasma proteins. During 1992, blood was collected from 3-week-old herring gull (Larus argentatus) chicks from six sites on Lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, and Winnipeg and from 3-week-old Caspian tern (Sterna caspia) chicks from five sites on Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Ontario. These sites provided a wide gradient of organochlorine contamination. Plasma proteins were separated by high-resolution agarose gel electrophoresis and stained with Coomassie brilliant blue dye. Six major fractions were quantified: prealbumin, albumin, alpha-globulins, beta(1)-globulins, beta(2)-globulins, and gamma-globulins. Total protein, prealbumin, albumin, and gamma-globulin concentrations and the albumin/globulin ratio did not differ among sites. Total protein, albumin, and the albumin/globulin ratio were not decreased in birds experiencing food stress or weight loss. Intersite differences were found in alpha- and beta-globulins. In gulls, beta(2)-globulins were positively associated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ether (DDE). In terns, PCBs were negatively associated with alpha-globulins and positively associated with beta(1)-globulins. Additional research is needed to identify individual proteins and elucidate causal relationships between the particular protein concentrations and factors such as contaminants, growth, and condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton, OH 45435-0001, USA. keith.grasman@wright.edu
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Grasman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Hammersley
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Scanlon
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Fox
mesh_terms: D000510:Alpha-Globulins / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001609:Beta-Globulins / Q000187:drug effects; D001717:Birds / Q000097:blood* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D001824:Body Constitution / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000633:toxicity; D017753:Ecosystem; D005618:Fresh Water; D006114:Great Lakes Region; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000510:Alpha-Globulins; D001609:Beta-Globulins; D001798:Blood Proteins; D007306:Insecticides; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls