Dehydration and camel blood. I. Red blood cell survival in the one-humped camel Camelus dromedarius
Yagil, R.; Sod-Moriah, U.A.; Meyerstein, N.
American Journal of Physiology 226(2): 298-300
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9513 PMID: 4811183 Document Number: 79787
1. The life span was estimated of red blood cells of a female camel 12 years old weighing 600 kg during summer when the temperature was from 20 deg to 40 deg C with water freely available, in winter when the temperature was from 2 deg to 20 deg with water freely available and in summer with water restricted to 50 litres given once a week. The camel was given straw to appetite and 7 kg concentrate/day throughout. Half-life and survival time of red cells were 8 and 120 days, respectively, during the first summer period and survival time in the winter was 90 days. During the period of dehydration half-life was 12 days and survival time was 150 days. The lengthening of red cell life span during dehydration may contribute to the ability of the camel to conserve water.