In vivo arterial blood gases, acid—base parameters and haematological parameters of fasting and digesting snakes (Python molurus)
| Experiment . | Before feeding (0 h) . | After feeding (48 h) . | Control (0 h) . | Control (48 h) . |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PaO2 (kPa) | 9.98±0.40 (9) | 9.54±0.59 (9) | 9.49±1.19 (5) | 10.22±0.60 (4) |
| pHa | 7.60±0.02 (9) | 7.62±0.03 (9) | 7.55±0.02 (5) | 7.57±0.01 (4) |
| PaCO2 (kPa) | 2.21±0.13 (9) | 2.89±0.17(9)* | 2.88±0.27 (5) | 2.70±0.20 (4) |
| [HCO3-]pl (mmol l-1) | 17.0±0.7 (9) | 23.3±1.2(9)* | 19.7±1.4 (5) | 19.3±0.9 (4) |
| Hct (%) | 19.2±0.8 (9) | 16.5±0.7(9)* | 22.1±0.9 (5) | 15.8±1.3(5)* |
| CO2 (mmol l-1) | 3.62±0.17(9) | 2.97±0.13(9)* | 3.83±0.44 (5) | 3.10±0.45(4)* |
| Osmolality (mOsm) | 277.2±1.2 (9) | 296.8±2.0(9)* | 273.0±1.8 (5) | 286.3±4.3 (3) |
| [Na+]pl (mmol l-1) | 150.8±3.5 (9) | 158.7±2.9 (9) | 147.2±4.1 (4) | 151.2±5.4 (3) |
| [K+]pl (mmol l-1) | 3.8±0.1 (9) | 3.4±0.1(9)* | 3.7±0.1 (4) | 3.9±0.2 (3) |
| [Cl-]pl (mmol l-1) | 109.1±1.7 (9) | 99.0±1.8(9)* | 109.1±2.2 (5) | 112.0±1.8 (3) |
| Experiment . | Before feeding (0 h) . | After feeding (48 h) . | Control (0 h) . | Control (48 h) . |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PaO2 (kPa) | 9.98±0.40 (9) | 9.54±0.59 (9) | 9.49±1.19 (5) | 10.22±0.60 (4) |
| pHa | 7.60±0.02 (9) | 7.62±0.03 (9) | 7.55±0.02 (5) | 7.57±0.01 (4) |
| PaCO2 (kPa) | 2.21±0.13 (9) | 2.89±0.17(9)* | 2.88±0.27 (5) | 2.70±0.20 (4) |
| [HCO3-]pl (mmol l-1) | 17.0±0.7 (9) | 23.3±1.2(9)* | 19.7±1.4 (5) | 19.3±0.9 (4) |
| Hct (%) | 19.2±0.8 (9) | 16.5±0.7(9)* | 22.1±0.9 (5) | 15.8±1.3(5)* |
| CO2 (mmol l-1) | 3.62±0.17(9) | 2.97±0.13(9)* | 3.83±0.44 (5) | 3.10±0.45(4)* |
| Osmolality (mOsm) | 277.2±1.2 (9) | 296.8±2.0(9)* | 273.0±1.8 (5) | 286.3±4.3 (3) |
| [Na+]pl (mmol l-1) | 150.8±3.5 (9) | 158.7±2.9 (9) | 147.2±4.1 (4) | 151.2±5.4 (3) |
| [K+]pl (mmol l-1) | 3.8±0.1 (9) | 3.4±0.1(9)* | 3.7±0.1 (4) | 3.9±0.2 (3) |
| [Cl-]pl (mmol l-1) | 109.1±1.7 (9) | 99.0±1.8(9)* | 109.1±2.2 (5) | 112.0±1.8 (3) |
Data for snakes that were not fed but sampled at a 48 h interval are also included (unfed control).
PaO2, arterial O2 partial pressure; pHa, arterial pH; PaCO2, arterial CO2 partial pressure; [HCO3-]pl,concentration of plasma bicarbonate; Hct, haematocrit; CO2, total concentration of oxygen in whole blood; [Na+]pl, sodium concentration in plasma;[K+]pl, potassium concentration in plasma;[Cl-]pl, chloride concentration in plasma.
Values are means ± S.E.M. (N).
signifies statistical difference between 0 h and 48 h values at P≤0.05.