CAIMAN LATIROSTRIS HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS UNDER HYPOXIC INCUBATION CONDITIONS

PA. SIROSKI, ; JL IUNGMAN; GL POLETTA

Manaus-Amazonas

Congreso; 20 th Working Meeting of the IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group; 2010

IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group

Many physiological processes have been described as a consequence of hypoxia environment in many vertebrates. Frequently, hypoxic incubation is a tool used to address studies of morphological and physiological characteristics during animal development. The aim of this study was determine if there was hematological response to hypoxia incubation conditions. We compared hematocrit (Ht), hemoglobin concentration (Hb) and red blood cells count (RBC) from embryos incubated at 31 °C and 33 °C and under hypoxia (12% Oxygen concentration) and normoxia conditions. Hypoxic incubation of C. latirostris resulted in physiological changes. We detected difference in Ht, Hb, and RBC at 31°C (p<0.05) but not at 33 °C (p>0.05). The results showed that embryos incubated under hypoxia showed a blunted hematological compensative response indicated by variables mentioned. At 31°C, C. latirostris embryos would compensate low oxygen available during incubation with physiological repertoire, as it is shown by the increment of hematological variables evaluated.