| Temperature-dependent regulation of blood distribution in snakes. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 21490254 Owner: NLM Status: In-Data-Review |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Regional control of blood flow is often suggested as a mechanism for fine thermoregulatory adjustments in snakes. However, the flow of blood to different body regions at various temperatures has never been visualized to confirm this mechanism. We used (99m)technetium-labelled macroaggregated albumin ((99m)Tc-MAA), a radioactive tracer, to follow the flow of blood through the bodies of garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) near their thermal maxima and minima. We injected snakes with(99m)Tc-MAA at cold (6-8°C) and hot (27-32°C) temperatures and imaged them using a gamma scanner. At cold ambient temperatures, snakes significantly reduced the blood flow to their tails and significantly increased the blood flow to their heads. Conversely, at hot ambient temperatures, snakes significantly increased the blood flow to their tails and significantly reduced the blood flow to their heads. This confirms that snakes are able to use differential blood distribution to regulate temperature. Our images confirm that snakes use regional control of blood flow as a means of thermoregulation and that vasomotor control of vascular beds is likely to be the mechanism of control. |
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Authors:
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Joshua J Amiel; Beverly Chua; Richard J Wassersug; David R Jones |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: The Journal of experimental biology Volume: 214 ISSN: 1477-9145 ISO Abbreviation: J. Exp. Biol. Publication Date: 2011 May |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-04-14 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0243705 Medline TA: J Exp Biol Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 1458-62 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, Heydon-Laurence Building (A08), Science Road, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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