QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s):
Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by EWER, R. F. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by EWER, R. F.

Journal of Experimental Biology 18,197-205 (1942)
Published by Company of Biologists 1942

On the Function of Haemoglobin in Chironomus

R. F. EWER ¹

¹ Zoology Department, University of Birmingham; Owen Fellow of the University of Birmingham

1. At 17°C. the oxygen consumption of Chironomus larvae shows little diminution when the oxygen concentration in the water decreases from 7.5 c.c. per litre (air saturation) to about 3 c.c. per litre. Below 3 c.c. per litre a further decrease in oxygen concentration causes a falling off in oxygen consumption.

2. At 17°C. the oxygen consumption of Chironomus larvae whose haemoglobin has been converted to carboxyhaemoglobin is as great as that of normal animals from air saturation down to 3 c.c. per litre. Below this point the oxygen consumption is less than that of normal animals.

3. It follows that at 17°C. the haemoglobin of Chironomus larvae from well aerated water does not function in oxygen transport at air saturation, but only at oxygen pressures below 3 c.c. per litre.

4. Some observations of the habitat of the larvae show that they can live in situations where oxygen concentrations of less than 2 c.c. per litre persist for periods of at least 16 consecutive hours. The larvae are also to be found in situations where the oxygen concentration is high.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. E. Weber and S. N. Vinogradov Nonvertebrate Hemoglobins: Functions and Molecular Adaptations Physiol Rev, April 1, 2001; 81(2): 569 - 628. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. E. Thompson and D. S. English Multiplicity of Hemoglobins in the Genus Chironomus (Tendipes) Science, April 1, 1966; 152(3718): 75 - 76. [Abstract] [PDF]