F:\ALCES\Supp2\PAGEMA~1\Rus 20s


ALCES SUPPL. 2, 2002 MOYSEENKO – COMPONENTS OF RED BLOOD IN YOUNG MOOSE

93

COMPONENTS OF RED BLOOD IN YOUNG MOOSE

Nelly A. Moyseenko

State University, 167 Syktyvkar, Komi Republic, Russia

ABSTRACT:  Investigating moose domestication at the Pechora–Ilych Reserve provided an

opportunity to study the development of respiration blood activity.  Respiration (gas transporta-

tion) blood activity plays an important role in moose adaptation.  Characteristics of the gas–

transporting function of blood of moose after birth are not synchronic, and this process is not

completed by the age of 1 year.  But the process of gas transporting in moose organs develops faster

than that of domesticated hoofed animals and is dependent on their environment.

ALCES SUPPLEMENT 2: 93-97 (2002)

Key words: agricultural animals, blood components, blood protein, hemoglobin, lactation, on-

togenesis, physiological anemia, red blood cell, respiration activity

MATERIALS AND METHODS

I experimented with 23 moose on the

Pechora–Ilych Reserve.  Blood was taken

from the jugular vein and stabilized with

geparin.  Morphofunctional parameters of

red blood were determined by methods gen-

erally used in laboratory, clinical, and vet-

erinary practice (Kudrjavtsev 1952).

Electrophoresis of hemoglobin (Hb) was

done in 0.8–1.0% agar gel (Agar “Difko–

Bakto” without additional cleaning) accord-

ing to the Strekalov (1967a, b) method in

Kachmarchik (1973); modification if pH is

7.0 of K–phosphate buffer and if the ion

force of K–phosphate buffer and the ion

force of solution is 0.005 in gel and 0.05 in

electrode vessel and in polyacrylamide gel if

pH is 8.3 tris–glycine electrode buffer used

for division of gel systems and buffer solu-

tions N1 according to Maurer (1971), modi-

fied for chemical polymerization.  Alkaline

resistance of Hb was determined by the

modified Zinger method (Irzhak et al. 1985).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Data from the first year of the study,

including lactating moose and moose with

calf–blood components, are given in Table

1.  Erythrocyte (Er) concentration in the

blood of newborn moose and those 1.0–1.5

years of age was equal, but concentration

was a little higher than that of lactating

moose.  It is also typical for intact adult

animals; the characteristics of their red

blood cells are given in the works of Knorre

and Knorre (1959) and Marma (1967).  It is

typical for mature moose.

But Hb concentration in blood of 1–

day–old moose of postembryogenesis is 26–

27% lower than that of 1–year–olds and

intact ones.  This is the component that

differs between moose and reindeer and

domesticated, hoofed animals.  We believe

that this factor depends on the sedentary

life, especially in postembryogenesis.

Fetal hemoglobin (HbF), which is con-

sidered to be the main component of total

Hb in blood of newborn moose, was first

found by Moyseenko and Mochalov (1987)

(Fig. 1).  Concentration of Hb is the factor

that makes the affinity of newborn moose

Hb with oxygen higher than of adults; Hb

newborn moose P
50

Hb is 25% higher (Irzhak

and Gladilov 1981).

During the first 2 weeks of life, microcell

gipochrome anemia develops in the organs



COMPONENTS OF RED BLOOD IN YOUNG MOOSE – MOYSEENKO ALCES SUPPL. 2, 2002

94

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COMPONENTS OF RED BLOOD IN YOUNG MOOSE – MOYSEENKO ALCES SUPPL. 2, 2002

96

osmotic resistance.  The process of HbF

synthesis is still going on.  Morphophysi-

ological parameters of Er are not finished

during the first year of life and continue at

various rates.  The concentration of Hb in

blood increases during the first year.  Ac-

cordingly, Hb saturation in Er changes.  We

discovered higher concentration of Hb in

the blood of moose of different age groups

than that described in the literature because

we dealt with the result of 40 years of work

on domestication of moose.  Nearly 40

years of selection in moose productivity and

behavior should cause the changing of func-

tionally connected organs and systems, al-

though the latter could not have selectional

symptoms.

The process of HbF synthesis stops

when the moose reaches the age of 1.0–1.5

months.  For domestic cattle the same proc-

ess lasts until the age of 1.5–2.0 and even to

5.0 months, depending on the strains of

cattle and environment (Mickle and

Merkurjeva 1963, Sleptsov et al. 1977).  We

think that this process continues due to the

rapid growth of moose after their birth,

depending on environment.  A high level of

alkaline resistance is typical for other adult

hoofed animals.  But alkaline resistance of

Hb of moose is lower then that of reindeer.

Osmotic resistance of Er of moose is lower

than that of reindeer although the latter are

larger.

Characteristics of the gas–transporting

function of blood of moose after birth are

not synchronic, and this process is not com-

pleted by the age of 1 year.  But the process

of gas transporting in moose organs devel-

ops faster than that of domesticated, hoofed

animals and is dependent on their environ-

ment.  Respiration (gas transportation) ac-

tivity of blood plays an important role in

moose adaptation.

REFERENCES

IRZHAK, L. I., and V. V GLADILOV. 1981.

Age characteristics of Hb affinity with

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