ENVIRONMENTAL, AGE, AND SEX EFFECTS ON COTTON RAT (SIGMODON HISPIDUS)HEMATOLOGY

We determined the effects of sex, age, and environment (inbred, captiv e-wild, and wild animals) on selected blood parameters of the cotton r at (Sigmodon hispidus) in central Oklahoma (USA) from 1990 to 1994. Ma le and female cotton rats had similar blood profiles. Age-related diff erences were confined to differential white blood cell counts where ad ults possessed greater numbers of neutrophils and lower numbers of lym phocytes compared to juveniles. Environment had a strong influence on many hematological parameters. Hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, R BC count, and eosinophil number were generally greater for wild stocks compared to inbred animals, and differences were more pronounced for adults than juveniles.