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Blood serum cholesterol levels in turtles
Comp. Biochem. Physiol., 1967, Vol. 20, pp. 311 to 312. Pergamon Press Ltd. Printed in Great Britain
SHORT COMMUNICATION BLOOD SERUM CHOLESTEROL LEVELS IN T U R T L E S C. G. JACKSON, JR. Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, U.S.A. and R. C. L E G E N D R E Department of Chemistry, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, U.S.A. (Received 25 dYuly 1966) A b s t r a c t - - 1 . Determination by spectrophotometric methods of the blood
serum cholesterol of 10 species of turtles representing 2 families yielded total cholesterol values ranging from 78 to 480 rag/100 ml of serum. 2. Differences in serum cholesterol levels between the 2 families suggest a phylogenetic aspect. INTRODUCTION IN THE course of determining the suitability of several species of southeastern turtles for certain physiological experiments, advantage was taken of an opportunity to determine the blood serum cholesterol level in 10 species which represent 2 families. Quantitative cholesterol determinations were made spectrophotometrically using the Bausch & Lomb Spectronic 20. The procedure followed that of Zlatkis et al. (1953) and consisted in the photometric measurement of the color developed in a diluted serum by a ferric chloride-sulfuric acid reagent. The animals were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection of Nembutal (sodium pentobarbital) shortly before bleeding. Blood was obtained by cardiac puncture (except in two instances) and all individuals examined were sexually mature. Only freshly collected specimens were utilized; therefore, the data are assumed to reflect the blood picture existing in nature. None of the animals had been fed prior to bleeding. Although a rich literature exists with respect to the distribution of various sterols in the tissues of different animals (Cook, 1958) relatively little information is available regarding ectothermal vertebrates other than fishes. In the case of blood serum cholesterol levels in turtles, apparently no values have been previously reported. In view of the current interest in the metabolism and biochemistry of cholesterol, the data shown in Table 1 are presented. All cholesterol values are reported as mg of total cholesterol per 100 ml of serum. 311
312
C . G . JACKSON,JR. AND R. C. LEGENDBE
Although perhaps fortuitous, it is of interest that the highest and lowest cholesterol values coincide with the phylogenetic separation of the species into the Chelydridae and Testudinidae, respectively. TABLE 1 Species
Number of specimens
Cholesterol values
1 1 1 1 1 2
210 80 78 120 240 220; 250 160
Testudinidae Deirochelys r. reticularia Gopherus polyphemus Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis Pseudemys f. floridana x peninsularis *Pseudemys s. scripta Terrapene carolina major Terrapene carolina triunguis
1
Chelydridae Chelydra s. serpentina Kinosternon s. subrubrum × hippocrepis *Macroclemys temmincki Sternothaerus m. minor
1 1
1 2
480 140 240 330; 350
* Peripheral blood. T w o of the 10 species in Table 1, G. polyphemus and P. c. suwanniensis are said by Carr (1952) to be herbivorous. Since the lowest cholesterol values were also associated with these two species, a dietary influence may be present. Altman & Dittmer (1961) record total cholesterol serum values ranging from 159to481 mg/100 ml for adult humans. Because of the similarity of ranges between humans and turtles for this particular blood parameter as well as the comparative ease of maintaining diverse types of turtles in the laboratory, it is suggested that the experimental potential of turtles in cholesterol investigations is worthy of further consideration. Acknowledgements--This study was supported in part by funds from the University of South Alabama Research Committee. Appreciation is expressed to Dr. Richard P. King for helpful advice and criticism.
REFERENCES ALTMANP. L. & DITTMERD. S. (1961) Blood and Other Body Fluids. Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol., Washington, D.C. CARR A. F. (1952) Handbook of Turtles. Cornell University Press, Ithaca. COOK R. P. (1958) Cholesterol, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pathology. Academic Press, New York. ZLATKISA., Z~a~ B. & BOYLEA. J. (1953) A new method for the direct determination of serum cholesterol.3. Lab. din. Med. 41,486-492.
SHORT COMMUNICATION BLOOD SERUM CHOLESTEROL LEVELS IN T U R T L E S C. G. JACKSON, JR. Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, U.S.A. and R. C. L E G E N D R E Department of Chemistry, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, U.S.A. (Received 25 dYuly 1966) A b s t r a c t - - 1 . Determination by spectrophotometric methods of the blood
serum cholesterol of 10 species of turtles representing 2 families yielded total cholesterol values ranging from 78 to 480 rag/100 ml of serum. 2. Differences in serum cholesterol levels between the 2 families suggest a phylogenetic aspect. INTRODUCTION IN THE course of determining the suitability of several species of southeastern turtles for certain physiological experiments, advantage was taken of an opportunity to determine the blood serum cholesterol level in 10 species which represent 2 families. Quantitative cholesterol determinations were made spectrophotometrically using the Bausch & Lomb Spectronic 20. The procedure followed that of Zlatkis et al. (1953) and consisted in the photometric measurement of the color developed in a diluted serum by a ferric chloride-sulfuric acid reagent. The animals were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection of Nembutal (sodium pentobarbital) shortly before bleeding. Blood was obtained by cardiac puncture (except in two instances) and all individuals examined were sexually mature. Only freshly collected specimens were utilized; therefore, the data are assumed to reflect the blood picture existing in nature. None of the animals had been fed prior to bleeding. Although a rich literature exists with respect to the distribution of various sterols in the tissues of different animals (Cook, 1958) relatively little information is available regarding ectothermal vertebrates other than fishes. In the case of blood serum cholesterol levels in turtles, apparently no values have been previously reported. In view of the current interest in the metabolism and biochemistry of cholesterol, the data shown in Table 1 are presented. All cholesterol values are reported as mg of total cholesterol per 100 ml of serum. 311
312
C . G . JACKSON,JR. AND R. C. LEGENDBE
Although perhaps fortuitous, it is of interest that the highest and lowest cholesterol values coincide with the phylogenetic separation of the species into the Chelydridae and Testudinidae, respectively. TABLE 1 Species
Number of specimens
Cholesterol values
1 1 1 1 1 2
210 80 78 120 240 220; 250 160
Testudinidae Deirochelys r. reticularia Gopherus polyphemus Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis Pseudemys f. floridana x peninsularis *Pseudemys s. scripta Terrapene carolina major Terrapene carolina triunguis
1
Chelydridae Chelydra s. serpentina Kinosternon s. subrubrum × hippocrepis *Macroclemys temmincki Sternothaerus m. minor
1 1
1 2
480 140 240 330; 350
* Peripheral blood. T w o of the 10 species in Table 1, G. polyphemus and P. c. suwanniensis are said by Carr (1952) to be herbivorous. Since the lowest cholesterol values were also associated with these two species, a dietary influence may be present. Altman & Dittmer (1961) record total cholesterol serum values ranging from 159to481 mg/100 ml for adult humans. Because of the similarity of ranges between humans and turtles for this particular blood parameter as well as the comparative ease of maintaining diverse types of turtles in the laboratory, it is suggested that the experimental potential of turtles in cholesterol investigations is worthy of further consideration. Acknowledgements--This study was supported in part by funds from the University of South Alabama Research Committee. Appreciation is expressed to Dr. Richard P. King for helpful advice and criticism.
REFERENCES ALTMANP. L. & DITTMERD. S. (1961) Blood and Other Body Fluids. Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol., Washington, D.C. CARR A. F. (1952) Handbook of Turtles. Cornell University Press, Ithaca. COOK R. P. (1958) Cholesterol, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pathology. Academic Press, New York. ZLATKISA., Z~a~ B. & BOYLEA. J. (1953) A new method for the direct determination of serum cholesterol.3. Lab. din. Med. 41,486-492.