Shining new light on mammalian diving physiology using wearable near-infrared spectroscopy

McKnight, J. Chris and Bennett, Kimberley A. and Bronkhorst, Mathijs and Russell, Debbie J. F. and Balfour, Steve and Milne, Ryan and Bivins, Matt and Moss, Simon E. W. and Colier, Willy and Hall, Ailsa J. and Thompson, Dave and Taylor, Graham K (2019) Shining new light on mammalian diving physiology using wearable near-infrared spectroscopy. PLOS Biology, 17 (6). e3000306. ISSN 1545-7885

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Abstract

Investigation of marine mammal dive-by-dive blood distribution and oxygenation has been limited by a lack of noninvasive technology for use in freely diving animals. Here, we developed a noninvasive near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device to measure relative changes in blood volume and haemoglobin oxygenation continuously in the blubber and brain of voluntarily diving harbour seals. Our results show that seals routinely exhibit preparatory peripheral vasoconstriction accompanied by increased cerebral blood volume approximately 15 s before submersion. These anticipatory adjustments confirm that blood redistribution in seals is under some degree of cognitive control that precedes the mammalian dive response. Seals also routinely increase cerebral oxygenation at a consistent time during each dive, despite a lack of access to ambient air. We suggest that this frequent and reproducible reoxygenation pattern, without access to ambient air, is underpinned by previously unrecognised changes in cerebral drainage. The ability to track blood volume and oxygenation in different tissues using NIRS will facilitate a more accurate understanding of physiological plasticity in diving animals in an increasingly disturbed and exploited environment.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: Article Paper Librarian > Biological Science
Depositing User: Unnamed user with email support@article.paperlibrarian.com
Date Deposited: 23 Jan 2023 10:17
Last Modified: 26 Sep 2023 06:15
URI: http://editor.journal7sub.com/id/eprint/10

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