title: Age-correlation of blood values in the rock pigeon (Columba livia).
abstract: Hematological adaptations to age (1-17 years) and about variability per se for free-living rock pigeons Columba livia are presented. Increasing age is correlated with decreasing values of hematocrit and hemoglobin. A marked reduction of lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) activity in the first 2-3 years may be caused by a training-based increase of the relative portion of the aerobically working red breast muscles (responsible for endurance) at the expense of the proportion of anaerobically working white breast muscles. The age-correlated increase in glucose could indicate a decreasing tolerance for carbohydrates. Optimal flight performance is achieved by the doves at an age of about 2-3 years; the high performance is retained until an age range of 7-9 years.
authors.affiliation: Department Metabolic Physiology, FB 15 (Biowissenschaften), Johann-Wolfgang Goethe University, Siesmayerstrasse 70, 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. prinzinger@bio.uni-frankfurt.de
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prinzinger
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Misovic
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002712:Chlorides / Q000097:blood; D010856:Columbidae / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002712:Chlorides; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase