Ns. Agar et Bm. Mcallan, RED-CELL METABOLISM IN A SMALL DASYURID MARSUPIAL, THE BROWN ANTECHINUS (ANTECHINUS-STUARTII), Comparative haematology international, 5(3), 1995, pp. 201-205
Red cell metabolism was examined in a small dasyurid marsupial, the br
own antechinus Antechinus stuartii. There were significant differences
in haematocrit with regard to sex and the season. Compared to other m
arsupials, the haemoglobin of A. stuartii was more susceptible to oxid
ation by acetylphenylhydrazine. However, the rate of methaemoglobin re
duction was faster in A. stuartii. Our results appear to support a pre
vious suggestion that methaemoglobin reducing ability is greater in th
ose species whose haemoglobin is more susceptible to oxidative stress.