Flight effects on certain blood parameters in homing pigeons Columba livia

George, Jasmine; John, T. M.

doi:10.1016/0300-9629(93)90385-h

Cited by 20 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…Several studies on homing pigeons have shown that none of the investigated blood parameters (e.g. uric acid, haematocrit, osmolality, Na + and K + ) show drastic changes during flights lasting around 1·h (John et al, 1988;Bordel and Haase, 1993;George and John, 1993). During flights of about 1-2·h, the metabolism of pigeons switches from using carbohydrates to fats in order to produce energy (John et al, 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…circulating proteins, uric acid and ions (George and John, 1993); haematocrit, plasma free fatty acids and ions (Bordel and Haase, 1993); arginine vasotocin (Giladi et al, 1997); corticosterone and uric acid (Jenni et al, 2000); proteins (Schwilch et al, 2002); and haematocrit (Jenni et al, 2006)]. However, only one recent study analysed pro-oxidants and plasma antioxidants in flying birds (Costantini et al, 2007a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pennycuick, 1968;Rothe et al, 1987;John et al, 1988;Bordel and Haase, 1993;Bordel and Haase, 2000;George and John, 1993;Schwilch et al, 1996). To quantify the oxidative status of this species, we determined, (1) the oxidative damage as serum reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs; primarily hydroperoxides) and (2) the total (Costantini et al, 2006;Costantini et al, 2007a;Costantini et al, 2007b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Long flights and age affect oxidative status of homing pigeons(Columba livia)

Costantini

Dell’Ariccia

Lipp

2008

Journal of Experimental Biology

136

105

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SUMMARYFlying is an energy demanding activity that imposes several physiological challenges on birds, such as increase in energy expenditure. Evidence from sports medicine shows that exhausting exercise may cause oxidative stress. Studies on avian flight have so far considered several blood parameters, such as uric acid, corticosteroids, or circulating free fatty acids, but only one study has analysed markers of oxidative stress in flying birds. In this study, we evaluated, for the first time, how different flight efforts affect the oxidative status using homing pigeons (Columba livia) as a model species. Two groups of pigeons flew for around 60 and 200·km, respectively. Pigeons that flew for 200·km had a 54% increase in oxidative damage as measured by serum reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs), a 19% drop in total serum antioxidant capacity (OXY) and an 86% increase of oxidative stress (ROMs/OXYϫ1000). Older pigeons depleted more serum antioxidants regardless of the release distance. Among pigeons that flew the longer distance, heavier ones depleted less serum antioxidants. The results of the study suggest that long flights may cause oxidative stress, and that older individuals may experience higher physiological demands.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Long flights and age affect oxidative status of homing pigeons(Columba livia)

Costantini

Dell’Ariccia

Lipp

2008

Journal of Experimental Biology

136

105

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“…Other studies have investigated various aspects of avian flight physiology that include metabolism and biochemistry (Christensen et al, 1994;George and John, 1993;Schwilch et al, 1996), thermoregulation and water balance (Adams et al, 1997;Carmi et al, 1993Carmi et al, , 1994Hissa et al, 1995;Giladi et al, 1997), and wing cycle and ventilation (Boggs et al, 1997a,b). However, only one in-depth cardiorespiratory study on an avian species during steady flight has been reported (Butler et al, 1977).…”

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Cardiorespiratory adjustments of homing pigeons to steady wind tunnel flight

Peters

Steiner

Rigoni

et al. 2005

Journal of Experimental Biology

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3109Flying vertebrates are of interest to cardiovascular physiologists because their aerobic metabolic capability is about twice that of running mammals of equal size (Thomas et al., 1987). Because homing pigeons Columba livia combine a relatively small body size (allometric variation) with superior athletic ability (adaptational variation) and tractable behavior, they are an excellent animal model for investigating the upper limits of vertebrate cardiorespiratory adaptation and performance during intense metabolic stress.Over the years, much has been learned about the many aspects of the cardiorespiratory responses of birds to treadmill exercise (Bevan et al., 1994(Bevan et al., , 1995 and resting hypoxic stress (Maginniss et al., 1997;Novoa et al., 1991). Other studies have investigated various aspects of avian flight physiology that include metabolism and biochemistry (Christensen et al., 1994;George and John, 1993;Schwilch et al., 1996), thermoregulation and water balance (Adams et al., 1997;Carmi et al., 1993Carmi et al., , 1994Hissa et al., 1995;Giladi et al., 1997), and wing cycle and ventilation (Boggs et al., 1997a,b). However, only one in-depth cardiorespiratory study on an avian species during steady flight has been reported (Butler et al., 1977). Consequently, this central aspect of avian physiology remains poorly understood.Two reasons for the scarcity of detailed avian flight cardiorespiratory data are the need for specialized equipment (e.g. a wind tunnel) and chronic vascular cannulation techniques, which provide access to the bird's circulatory system while allowing normal behavior of the bird. Accordingly, the two primary objectives of this study were: (1) to develop chronic cannulation techniques and blood sampling procedures for the pigeon in order to routinely obtain arterial and mixed venous blood samples from both resting and flying birds, and (2) to comprehensively characterize the basic cardiorespiratory parameters of our population of homing pigeons at calm rest and during steady wind tunnel flight under defined conditions. Materials and methods Experimental animals and housingHoming pigeons Columba livia L. to be investigated were of unknown sex and obtained from Dr Melvin Kreithen's outdoor loft at the University of Pittsburgh; mean body mass (± S.D.) was 340±45·g. The birds were housed in individual indoor cages at 21°C under a 12·h:12·h (light:dark) photoperiod with ample commercial pigeon food and water. All data reported in this study were collected between 09:00·h and 01:00·h. Screening and familiarization Resting studiesThe birds were first screened to determine whether they were We made detailed cardiorespiratory measurements from homing pigeons during quiet rest and steady wind tunnel flight. Our pigeons satisfied their 17.4-fold increase in oxygen consumption during flight with a 7.4-fold increase in cardiac output (Q) and a 2.4-fold increase in blood oxygen extraction. Q was increased primarily by increasing heart rate sixfold. Comparisons between our study and those from th...

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“…Supplemental to fat catabolism, it has become apparent that protein in lean tissue is also catabolized during flight, thermogenesis, and at rest (3,7,25,27,28,31,42,45). Protein is primarily catabolized for energy during phase III of fasting when fat and glycogen stores have been depleted (13), but protein catabolism during phase I of fasting, while an animal still has sufficient energy stores remaining, may be in response to other physiological factors.Catabolism of protein during flight in birds has been documented through gravimetric changes in muscles and organs (3,5,32,42) and through changes in plasma metabolites such as uric acid (16,22,26,27,43,49). Since there is no storage tissue for protein as there is for fat (adipocytes) or carbohydrates (liver and muscle glycogen), protein is used directly from muscles and organs with possible negative consequences to flight performance in the case of muscle catabolism or nutrient absorption and processing in the case of organ catabolism.…”

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House sparrows (Passer domesticus) increase protein catabolism in response to water restriction

Gerson

Guglielmo

2011

American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comp

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Gerson AR, Guglielmo CG. House sparrows (Passer domesticus) increase protein catabolism in response to water restriction. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 300: R925-R930, 2011. First published January 19, 2011 doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00701.2010.-Birds primarily rely on fat for energy during fasting and to fuel energetically demanding activities. Proteins are catabolized supplemental to fat, the function of which in birds remains poorly understood. It has been proposed that birds may increase the catabolism of body protein under dehydrating conditions as a means to maintain water balance, because catabolism of wet protein yields more total metabolic and bound water (0.155·H 2O Ϫ1 ·kJ Ϫ1 ) than wet lipids (0.029 g·H2O Ϫ1 ·kJ Ϫ1 ). On the other hand, protein sparing should be important to maintain function of muscles and organs. We used quantitative magnetic resonance body composition analysis and hygrometry to investigate the effect of water restriction on fat and lean mass catabolism during short-term fasting at rest and in response to a metabolic challenge (4-h shivering) in house sparrows (Passer domesticus). Water loss at rest and during shivering was compared with water gains from the catabolism of tissue. At rest, water-restricted birds had significantly greater lean mass loss, higher plasma uric acid concentration, and plasma osmolality than control birds. Endogenous water gains from lean mass catabolism offset losses over the resting period. Water restriction had no effect on lean mass catabolism during shivering, as water gains from fat oxidation appeared sufficient to maintain water balance. These data provide direct evidence supporting the hypothesis that water stress can increase protein catabolism at rest, possibly as a metabolic strategy to offset high rates of evaporative water loss. metabolic water; total evaporative water loss; magnetic resonance body composition analysis BIRDS HAVE AN EXCEPTIONAL ability to rapidly mobilize and catabolize fat to fuel metabolically demanding activities such as flight or thermogenesis (21,25,36,46). Supplemental to fat catabolism, it has become apparent that protein in lean tissue is also catabolized during flight, thermogenesis, and at rest (3,7,25,27,28,31,42,45). Protein is primarily catabolized for energy during phase III of fasting when fat and glycogen stores have been depleted (13), but protein catabolism during phase I of fasting, while an animal still has sufficient energy stores remaining, may be in response to other physiological factors.Catabolism of protein during flight in birds has been documented through gravimetric changes in muscles and organs (3,5,32,42) and through changes in plasma metabolites such as uric acid (16,22,26,27,43,49). Since there is no storage tissue for protein as there is for fat (adipocytes) or carbohydrates (liver and muscle glycogen), protein is used directly from muscles and organs with possible negative consequences to flight performance in the case of muscle catabolism or nutrient absorption and processing in the case o...

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Flight effects on certain blood parameters in homing pigeons Columba livia

Cited by 20 publications

References 36 publications

Long flights and age affect oxidative status of homing pigeons(Columba livia)

Long flights and age affect oxidative status of homing pigeons(Columba livia)

Cardiorespiratory adjustments of homing pigeons to steady wind tunnel flight

House sparrows (Passer domesticus) increase protein catabolism in response to water restriction

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