Age, sex and seasonal variation in the shape and size of erythrocytes of the alpine accentor,<i>Prunella collaris</i>(Passeriformes: Prunellidae)

Janiga, M.; Haas, Martina; Kufelová, M.

doi:10.1080/24750263.2017.1403656

Cited by 13 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…they have a lower metabolic rate per volume unit, due to their relatively smaller membrane surface to cell volume, which should determine the cell metabolic rate (Starostová et al 2013). However, in our research, we found the largest erythrocytes occurred during the molting period, and a similar trend was observed in erythrocytes of alpine accentors in winter (Janiga et al 2017). A possible explanation is given by an interpretation of a study from Buttemer et al (2019), wherein cells remain less active despite increased metabolism of an organism such as during the molt period.…”

Section: Changes In the Shape And Size Of Erythrocytes Before During And After The Molt In Alpine Accentorssupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Our previous study (Janiga et al 2017) showed a trend whereby the adult birds have the largest cells in the winter and the smallest in the summer when they remain at higher elevations during nesting and weather conditions are stable. As the mean or the variance of temperature increases, smaller cells can be efficient in the increased metabolism, especially for oxygen supply (Czarnoleski et al 2013(Czarnoleski et al , 2015.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…In our previous study (Janiga et al 2017), we examined the seasonal effects on erythrocyte morphology in alpine accentors (Prunella collaris, Scop. 1769).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Variation in erythrocyte morphology in alpine accentors (Prunella collaris Scop.) from Tian Shan, Rila and the High Tatra mountains and effects of molting

Haas

Janiga

2020

The European Zoological Journal

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The birds inhabiting the high-altitude mountains have several physiological adaptations to environmental conditions. In this study, we try to investigate if are the morphological changes in erythrocytes caused by adaptation to a different condition in Eurasian mountain ranges and molt period. In a comparison of morphology of erythrocytes in alpine accentors from three different regions (Central Tian Shan (Kyrgyzstan), the Rila Mountains (Bulgaria) and the High Tatras (Slovakia)) variations were found in size and shape. Birds from the High Tatras had the largest and most elliptical cells, while erythrocytes from Tian Shan´s birds have the smallest and roundest shape. We also found that individuals from spatially separated populations of alpine accentors vary in size. The largest birds are found in the High Tatras, with smaller birds in the Rila Mountains and the smallest in the Tian Shan. Changes in erythrocyte morphology were studied in birds during the molt period (September-October). The cells elongate during the molt and do not reach their pre-molt size even after the molt. These morphology differences likely reflect their adaptation to environmental conditions such as climate and temperature as well as individual metabolic processes during the molt and preparation for autumn migration. In addition to their essential function (respiratory gas transport), nuclear erythrocytes can also participate in the transcription and translation of proteins, extending their other functions. Thus, it seems that changes in morphology must not affect these functions.

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Section: Changes In the Shape And Size Of Erythrocytes Before During And After The Molt In Alpine Accentorssupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

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Variation in erythrocyte morphology in alpine accentors (Prunella collaris Scop.) from Tian Shan, Rila and the High Tatra mountains and effects of molting

Haas

Janiga

2020

The European Zoological Journal

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“…Finally, erythrocyte shape can also vary, being rounder (smaller length to width ratio) or elongated (greater length to width ratio). Erythrocyte shape is poorly studied, but is known to vary plastically within‐species, for example, elongated erythrocytes were reported in alpine accentors breeding at high altitudes (Haas & Janiga, 2020; Janiga et al, 2017), whereas across bird species, erythrocytes were more elongated at higher altitudes and for species migrating long distances (Soulsbury et al, 2022). In contrast, cell shape (PCA of cell shape components) also varies extensively in teleosts, but did not vary with habitat or body size (Martins et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological and life‐history correlates of erythrocyte size and shape in Lepidosauria

Penman

Deeming

Soulsbury

2022

J of Evolutionary Biology

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Blood oxygen‐carrying capacity is shaped both by the ambient oxygen availability as well as species‐specific oxygen demand. Erythrocytes are a critical part of oxygen transport and both their size and shape can change in relation to species‐specific life‐history, behavioural or ecological conditions. Here, we test whether components of the environment (altitude), life history (reproductive mode, body temperature) and behaviour (diving, foraging mode) drive erythrocyte size variation in the Lepidosauria (lizards, snakes and rhynchocephalians). We collected data on erythrocyte size (area) and shape (L/W: elongation ratio) from Lepidosauria across the globe (N = 235 species). Our analyses show the importance of oxygen requirements as a driver of erythrocyte size. Smaller erythrocytes were associated with the need for faster delivery (active foragers, high‐altitude species, warmer body temperatures), whereas species with greater oxygen demands (diving species, viviparous species) had larger erythrocytes. Erythrocyte size shows considerable cross‐species variation, with a range of factors linked to the oxygen delivery requirements being major drivers of these differences. A key future aspect for study would include within‐individual plasticity and how changing states, for example, pregnancy, perhaps alter the size and shape of erythrocytes in Lepidosaurs.

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“…One study on alpine accentors Prunella collaris , found that the red blood cells and nuclei of juveniles were longer and wider in chicks than adults (all birds older than one year), and that males tended to have elongated cells. Cells were also shown to have significant seasonal differences (Janiga et al 2017). Another study on Japanese quails Coturnix coturnix japonica found a significant difference in erythrocyte size in chicks < 1 week old and those 3 and 5 weeks old, with the youngest being the longest, although the opposite was found when they compared reticulocytes (Tadjalli et al 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Declining haematocrit with increasing age in a population of male zebra finchesTaeniopygia guttata

Coughlan

Sadowska

Bauchinger

2022

Journal of Avian Biology

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Whole organismal declines in metabolic performance due to ageing are known to occur in virtually all higher vertebrates, the causes of such declines, however, are not fully understood. In mammals, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit and red blood cell count begin to decrease in later life. In birds however, such knowledge on changes in haematological variables with increasing age is still scarce and existing data largely focuses on nestlings or differences between juveniles and adults. Here, forty-five male zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata, aged between 15 and 84 months were brought to their metabolic peak through exercise and then sampled for a full suite of haematological variables, including four directly measured primary haematological variables which were modelled against age as a continuous factor. We found a significant decline in haematocrit due to ageing in the birds (p = 0.029), a phenomenon observed in several other avian species but still unexplained. Haemoglobin did not change significantly (p = 0.156), while neither erythrocyte size or number showed any trends with age (p = 0.898 and p = 0.922 respectively) indicating that declining haematocrit is due to mechanisms other than decreasing cells size or number. We considered reticulocytes, being generally larger than mature erythrocytes as an explanation for declining haematocrit, however an a priori examination revealed an opposite result and increased with age (p = 0.016), leading us to believe that the decline in haematocrit with increasing age relates to differences in water homeostasis potential in older birds. The age dependence of haematological variables appears less clear in birds than in mammals. Besides oxygen carrying capacity, haematocrit influences the viscoelastic properties of blood, and it remains to be shown if this decline in haematocrit in birds can explain declining aerobic metabolism.

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Age, sex and seasonal variation in the shape and size of erythrocytes of the alpine accentor,Prunella collaris(Passeriformes: Prunellidae)

Cited by 13 publications

References 42 publications

Variation in erythrocyte morphology in alpine accentors (Prunella collaris Scop.) from Tian Shan, Rila and the High Tatra mountains and effects of molting

Variation in erythrocyte morphology in alpine accentors (Prunella collaris Scop.) from Tian Shan, Rila and the High Tatra mountains and effects of molting

Ecological and life‐history correlates of erythrocyte size and shape in Lepidosauria

Declining haematocrit with increasing age in a population of male zebra finchesTaeniopygia guttata

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