Geographic variation in blood plasma protein concentrations of young herring gulls ( Larus argentatus) and Caspian terns ( Sterna caspia) from the Great Lakes and Lake Winnipeg

• Published in: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. C, Comparative pharmacology and toxicology Vol. 125; no. 3; pp. 365 - 375
• Main Authors: Grasman, Keith A, Armstrong, Michelle, Hammersley, Dotty L, Scanlon, Patrick F, Fox, Glen A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2000
• Subjects: Alpha-Globulins - drug effects; Animals; Antibody Formation; Beta-Globulins - drug effects; Birds - blood; Birds - growth & development; Birds - immunology; Blood proteins; Blood Proteins - analysis; Blood Proteins - drug effects; Body Constitution - physiology; Body Weight - drug effects; Body Weight - physiology; Caspian terns; Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene - toxicity; Ecosystem; Fish-eating birds; Fresh Water; Freshwater; Great Lakes; Great Lakes Region; Herring gulls; Insecticides - toxicity; Larus argentatus; Organochlorines; PCBs; Plasma proteins; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - toxicity; Species Specificity; Sterna caspia; Great Lakes Region; Canada, Manitoba, Winnipeg L; North America, Great Lakes; PCBs; Plasma proteins; Herring gulls; Caspian terns; Fish-eating birds; Organochlorines; Blood proteins; Great Lakes
• ISSN: 0742-8413; 1532-0456; 1878-1659
• DOI: 10.1016/S0742-8413(99)00118-8

Relative and total amounts of plasma protein fractions are affected by infections, inflammation, and nutritional and physiological status, and are therefore important health indicators in free-living animals. Our objectives were: (1) to examine intercolony differences in plasma protein fractions in prefledgling gulls and terns; (2) to investigate relationships between plasma proteins and other physiological measures such as weight loss, growth, and immune function; and (3) to examine potential associations between organochlorine exposure and plasma proteins. During 1992, blood was collected from 3-week-old herring gull ( Larus argentatus) chicks from six sites on Lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, and Winnipeg and from 3-week-old Caspian tern ( Sterna caspia) chicks from five sites on Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Ontario. These sites provided a wide gradient of organochlorine contamination. Plasma proteins were separated by high-resolution agarose gel electrophoresis and stained with Coomassie brilliant blue dye. Six major fractions were quantified: prealbumin, albumin, α-globulins, β 1-globulins, β 2-globulins, and γ-globulins. Total protein, prealbumin, albumin, and γ-globulin concentrations and the albumin/globulin ratio did not differ among sites. Total protein, albumin, and the albumin/globulin ratio were not decreased in birds experiencing food stress or weight loss. Intersite differences were found in α- and β-globulins. In gulls, β 2-globulins were positively associated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis( p-chlorophenyl)ether (DDE). In terns, PCBs were negatively associated with α-globulins and positively associated with β 1-globulins. Additional research is needed to identify individual proteins and elucidate causal relationships between the particular protein concentrations and factors such as contaminants, growth, and condition.