Oxygen-Binding Properties of the Blood of the Deep-Sea Shrimp Glyphocrangon vicaria

Abstract

The oxygenation characteristics of the blood of Glyphocrangon vicaria, a benthic shrimp captured at a depth of 1,800 m, are examined to elucidate the little-studied blood properties of an animal living in an isothermal, stable, deep-sea environment. Whole blood of G. vicaria shows a reduced effect of temperature on O₂ affinity and a marked, normal Bohr effect from pH 7 to pH 9 that increases with temperature, while cooperativity of O₂ binding is moderate and decreases with an increase in temperature. The blood of G. vicaria shows no specific effect of CO₂ on O₂ affinity and no effect of L-lactate on O₂ affinity. These blood oxygenation characteristics are compared with those of animals living in environments with similar and contrasting thermal characteristics.