Investigations of haematological parameters, the level of red cell ATP and blood lactate in the blood of resting and exercising Antarctic fish at cold and warm temperatures

The level of adenosine triphosphate in fish blood and its role in regulating oxygen uptake by fish haemoglobins was examined. Various haematological parameters, red cell ATP and blood lactate were determined for resting and exercising specimens of Pagothenia borchgrevinki and Trematomus bernacchii acclimated to cold (-2°C) and warm (5°C) temperatures. Purified extracts of haemoglobin were analysed for oxygen affinity and further studies were carried out on structural changes in the red cell membrane as a function of temperature using material collected in Antarctica. Incidental experiments were also carried out on Weddell seal haemoglobins, a copper containing protein from the sea slater Glyptonotus and temperature tolerance limits of an amphipod species. Eyes were taken from several species of pycnogonid and preserved for electron microscopy. Cell smears were made of gill epithelium and testis from colchicine treated T. bernacchii and P. borchgrevinki to test the feasibility of karyological studies.