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Pearson AB, Hückstädt LA, Kinsey ST, Schmitt TL, Robeck TR, St Leger J, Ponganis PJ, Tift MS. Relationship between red blood cell lifespan and endogenous carbon monoxide in the common bottlenose dolphin and beluga. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2024; 326:R134-R146. [PMID: 37982188 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00172.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Certain deep-diving marine mammals [i.e., northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii)] have blood carbon monoxide (CO) levels that are comparable with those of chronic cigarette smokers. Most CO produced in humans is a byproduct of heme degradation, which is released when red blood cells (RBCs) are destroyed. Elevated CO can occur in humans when RBC lifespan decreases. The contribution of RBC turnover to CO concentrations in marine mammals is unknown. Here, we report the first RBC lifespans in two healthy marine mammal species with different diving capacities and heme stores, the shallow-diving bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and deep-diving beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas), and we relate the lifespans to the levels of CO in blood and breath. The belugas, with high blood heme stores, had the longest mean RBC lifespan compared with humans and bottlenose dolphins. Both cetacean species were found to have three times higher blood CO content compared with humans. The estimated CO production rate from heme degradation indicates some marine mammals may have additional mechanisms for CO production, or delay CO removal from the body, potentially from long-duration breath-holds.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study to determine the red blood cell lifespan in a marine mammal species. High concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) were found in the blood of bottlenose dolphins and in the blood and breath of belugas compared with healthy humans. Red blood cell turnover accounted for these high levels in bottlenose dolphins, but there may be alternative mechanisms of endogenous CO production that are contributing to the CO concentrations observed in belugas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna B Pearson
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
| | - Luis A Hückstädt
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen T Kinsey
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
| | - Todd L Schmitt
- SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, San Diego, California, United States
| | - Todd R Robeck
- SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, San Diego, California, United States
| | - Judy St Leger
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States
| | - Paul J Ponganis
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States
| | - Michael S Tift
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
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Monteiro JP, Ferreira HB, Melo T, Flanagan C, Urbani N, Neves J, Domingues P, Domingues MR. The plasma phospholipidome of the bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus) is modulated by both sex and developmental stage. Mol Omics 2023; 19:35-47. [PMID: 36314173 DOI: 10.1039/d2mo00202g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Lipidomics represent a valid complementary tool to the biochemical analysis of plasma in humans. However, in cetaceans, these tools have been unexplored. Here, we evaluated how the plasma lipid composition of Tursiops truncatus is modulated by developmental stage and sex, aiming at a potential use of lipidomics in integrated strategies to monitor cetacean health. We characterized the fatty acid profile and detected a total of 26 fatty acids in T. truncatus plasma. The most abundant fatty acids were palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0) and oleic acid (C18:1n-9). Interestingly, there are consistent differences between the fatty acid profile of mature female and mature male specimens. Phospholipidome analysis identified 320 different lipid species belonging to phosphatidylcholine (PC, 105 lipid species), lysophosphatidylcholine (42), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE, 67), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (18), phosphatidylglycerol (14), lysophosphatidylglycerol (8), phosphatidylinositol (14), lysophosphatidylinositol (2), phosphatidylserine (3), sphingomyelin (45) and ceramides (2) classes. The statistical analysis of the phospholipidome showed that its composition allows discriminating mature animals between sexes and mature males from immature males. Notably, discrimination between sexes is mainly determined by the contents of PE plasmalogens and lysophospholipids (LPC and LPE), while the differences between mature and immature male animals were mainly determined by the levels of PC lipids. This is the first time that a correlation between developmental stage and sex and the lipid composition of the plasma has been established in cetaceans. Being able to discern between age and sex-related changes is an encouraging step towards using these tools to also detect differences related to disease/dysfunction processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- João P Monteiro
- Mass Spectrometry Centre, LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal. .,CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Helena B Ferreira
- Mass Spectrometry Centre, LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal. .,CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Tânia Melo
- Mass Spectrometry Centre, LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal. .,CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | | | | | | | - Pedro Domingues
- Mass Spectrometry Centre, LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal. .,CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - M Rosário Domingues
- Mass Spectrometry Centre, LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal. .,CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
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Whole Blood Fatty Acid Profiles of Cold-Stunned Juvenile Green, Kemp’s Ridley, and Loggerhead Sea Turtles. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL GARDENS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/jzbg4010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
When subjected to cold environmental temperatures, cheloniid sea turtles can experience debilitating lethargy, anorexia, and potential mortality in a phenomenon known as cold-stunning. Every year, hundreds to thousands of cold-stunned sea turtles are transported to rehabilitation centers for medical and nutritional care. The objective of this study was to investigate one aspect of nutritional status in cold-stunned sea turtles: fatty acid profiles. Blood was collected from eleven green (Chelonia mydas), twelve Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), and three loggerhead (Caretta caretta) juvenile sea turtles found cold-stunned along the coast of North Carolina, USA. Whole blood (~160 µL) was dried onto specialized paper spot cards, frozen, and subsequently analyzed via gas chromatography to quantify fatty acid percentages. Significant differences among species were identified for 19 out of 36 individual fatty acids analyzed and six out of seven fatty acid groups evaluated (P < 0.5). The whole blood fatty acid profiles of cold-stunned green and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles were similar to prior published profiles of healthy conspecifics. Marginal numerical differences noted upon visual comparison included that cold-stunned sea turtles had lower proportions of total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and monoenes and higher proportions of total saturated fatty acids relative to healthy conspecifics. These differences may reflect acute impacts of cold-stunning on circulating plasma fatty acids or may be the result of natural seasonal variations. These data provide practical information to aid in the diet design of sea turtles in rehabilitation settings.
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Pagan JD, Hauss AA, Pagan EC, Simons JL, Waldridge BM. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation increases levels in red blood cells and reduces the prevalence and severity of squamous gastric ulcers in exercised Thoroughbreds. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2022; 260:S121-S128. [PMID: 36269687 DOI: 10.2460/javma.22.06.0275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the relationship between plasma and RBC fatty acid composition and incidence and severity of squamous gastric ulcers when altered by short-chain (SC) or long-chain (LC) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation. ANIMALS 13 fit Thoroughbred horses in training. PROCEDURES Horses were evaluated by gastroscopy for squamous ulcer score, gastric pH, and blood fatty acid composition prior to supplementation (UNSUPP) and after 3 months of supplementation with a corn-flax oil blend of alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid (SC-PUFA) or a gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)-fish oil blend of GLA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; LC-PUFA) in a crossover design. Prior to gastroscopy and blood collection, horses performed a 4,600-m standardized exercise test on the racetrack as a stressor. RESULTS Three months of supplementation with LC-PUFAs increased RBC levels of GLA, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), arachidonic acid (AA), EPA, and DHA, and reduced severe ulcer prevalence (38% UNSUPP vs 8% LC-PUFA with a severe ulcer score of grade 3 to 4). Short-chain PUFA supplementation did not effectively elevate RBC GLA, DGLA, AA, EPA, or DHA and severe ulcer incidence was not different (38% UNSUPP vs 23% SC-PUFA with a severe ulcer score of grade 3 to 4). Lower levels of RBC GLA, DGLA, AA, and EPA correlated with severe squamous gastric ulceration (grade 3 to 4). CLINICAL RELEVANCE Equine gastric ulcer syndrome is prevalent in high-performance horses and is a concern to owners and trainers. Long-chain PUFA supplementation increased levels of GLA, DGLA, AA, EPA, and DHA, unlike SC-PUFA supplementation, and was associated positively with prevention or resolution of severe squamous gastric ulceration. Further studies are needed to evaluate different management styles and exercise intensities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Bryan M Waldridge
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
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Monteiro JP, Maciel E, Melo T, Flanagan C, Urbani N, Neves J, Domingues MR. The plasma phospholipidome of Tursiops truncatus: From physiological insight to the design of prospective tools for managed cetacean monitorization. Lipids 2021; 56:461-473. [PMID: 34036588 DOI: 10.1002/lipd.12307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Plasma biochemical analysis remains one of the established ways of monitoring captive marine mammal health. More recently, complementary plasma lipidomic analysis has proven to be a valid tool in disease diagnosis and prevention, with the potential to validate and complement common biochemical analysis, providing a more integrative approach. In this study, we thoroughly characterized the plasma polar lipid content of Tursiops truncatus, the most common cetacean species held under human care. Our results showed that phosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylcholine, and sphingomyelins (CerPCho) are the most represented phospholipid classes in T. truncatus plasma. Palmitic, oleic, and stearic acids are the major fatty acid (FA) present esterified to the plasma polar lipids of this species, although some n-3 species are also remarkably present, namely eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids. The polar lipidome identified by HILIC LC-MS allowed identifying 304 different lipid species. These species belong to the phosphatidylcholine (103 lipid species), lysophosphatidylcholine (35), phosphatidylethanolamine (71), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (20), phosphatidylglycerol (13), lysophosphatidylglycerol (5), phosphatidylinositol (15), lysophosphatidylinositol (3), phosphatidylserine (6) lysophosphatidylserine (1), and sphimgomyelin (32) classes. This was the first time that the dolphin plasma phospholipid profile was characterized, providing a knowledge that will be important to further understand lipid metabolism and physiological regulation in small cetaceans. Furthermore, this study proved the practicability of the use of plasma lipid profiling for health assessment in marine mammals under human care.
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Affiliation(s)
- João P Monteiro
- Mass Spectrometry Centre, LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.,CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Elisabete Maciel
- Mass Spectrometry Centre, LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.,CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Tânia Melo
- Mass Spectrometry Centre, LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.,CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | | | | | | | - Maria Rosário Domingues
- Mass Spectrometry Centre, LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.,CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
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Fish oil supplemented for 9 months does not improve glycaemic control or insulin sensitivity in subjects with impaired glucose regulation: a parallel randomised controlled trial. Br J Nutr 2015; 115:75-86. [DOI: 10.1017/s0007114515004274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe effects of fish oil (FO) supplementation on glycaemic control are unclear, and positive effects may occur only when the phospholipid content of tissue membranes exceeds 14 % asn-3 PUFA. Subjects (n36, thirty-three completed) were paired based on metabolic parameters and allocated into a parallel double-blind randomised trial with one of each pair offered daily either 6 g of FO (3·9 gn-3 PUFA) or 6 g of maize oil (MO) for 9 months. Hyperinsulinaemic–euglycaemic–euaminoacidaemic (HIEGEAA) clamps (with [6,62H2glucose]) were performed at the start and end of the intervention. Endogenous glucose production (EGP) and whole-body protein turnover (WBPT) were each measured after an overnight fast. The primary outcome involved the effect of oil type on insulin sensitivity related to glycaemic control. The secondary outcome involved the effect of oil type on WBPT. Subjects on FO (n16) had increased erythrocyten-3 PUFA concentrations >14 %, whereas subjects on MO (n17) had unalteredn-3 PUFA concentrations at 9 %. Type of oil had no effect on fasting EGP, insulin sensitivity or total glucose disposal during the HIEGEAA clamp. In contrast, under insulin-stimulated conditions, total protein disposal (P=0·007) and endogenous WBPT (P=0·001) were both increased with FO. In an associated pilot study (n4, three completed), althoughn-3 PUFA in erythrocyte membranes increased to >14 % with the FO supplement, the enrichment in muscle membranes remained lower (8 %;P<0·001). In conclusion, long-term supplementation with FO, at amounts near the safety limits set by regulatory authorities in Europe and the USA, did not alter glycaemic control but did have an impact on WBPT.
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