Haematological response to reduced oxygen-carrying capacity, increased temperature and hypoxia in goldfish, Carassius auratus L.

Goldfish were exposed to three qualitatively distinct forms of respiratory stress: phenylhydrazine HCl-induced reduction in blood oxygen-carrying capacity; transient (3 h) hypoxia; and transient (1 or 2 h) temperature-forced increases in oxygen demand. Response embodied three common features: (1) the relative number of immature red cells increased, and these were ³H-thymidine positive; (2) the abundance of apparently karyorrhectic or degenerating cells rose; (3) cells undergoing a form of division became prevalent. Neither of the latter two cell types evidenced thymidine uptake. These observations suggest that respiratory distress triggers the proliferation of new erythrocytes, and that this is accompanied by elimination of some portion of the preexisting red cell population. It is hypothesized that the latter process limits viscosity-related elevation of cardiac work costs. The significance of division by circulating erythrocytes is not clear.