Shape and size of red blood cells from the Pygoscelid penguins of Antarctica using atomic force microscopy

• Autor(a) principal: Bonatto, Cínthia C.
• Data de Publicação: 2009
• Outros Autores: Magalhães, Beatriz Simas, Branco, Joaquim O., Durigon, Edison L., Silva, Luciano P.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UCB
• Texto Completo: http://twingo.ucb.br:8080/jspui/handle/10869/481; https://repositorio.ucb.br:9443/jspui/handle/123456789/7636
• topic: Antarctica; Atomic force microscopy; Pygoscelis adeliae; Pygoscelis antarcticus; Pygoscelis papua; Red blood cells

Antarctic biodiversity is evolutionarily complex, reXecting the extreme ambient conditions. Therefore, Antarctic organisms exhibit sophisticated adaptations in all organization levels, including organs, tissues, and cells. Since red blood cells (RBCs) travel through the vertebrates blood delivering O2 to all tissues and organs and purging the unwanted CO2, they represent an interesting model to investigate biological adaptations. We have used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to compare the shape and size of RBCs of the Pygoscelid penguins. A total of 18 landmarks were measured in AFM images. When analyzed individually, the parameters were not capable of discriminating the RBCs of each species. However, the simultaneous use of multiple parameters discriminated (74%) among the RBCs. In addition, the use of RBC measurements was suYcient to hierarchically cluster the species in accordance to other common and reliable phylogenetic strategies. In light of these results, the use of RBC characters could eVectively beneWt taxonomic inferences.