[Erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and hemoglobin electrophoretic characteristics in rodent adaptation to high mountains].

Adaptation of the erythropoetic system to hypoxia was shown to be different in different populations of montaine rodents of the Central Caucasus. One type of adaptation includes the increase in 2,3-diphosphoglycerate content of erythrocytes, the hemoglobin structure remaining apparently unchanged. This pattern was found in two groups of animals -- in one population of the ground squirrel Citellus suslicus whose ancestors were introduced to the mountains some 25 years ago, and in the wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus which is a usual inhabitant of highland, although it does not form there any isolated populations. The other type of adaptation was found in the ground squirrel Citellus pygmaeus musicus, which is native to high altitude. The content of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in the erythrocytes in this animal is the same as in the sea-level subspecies C. p. planicola, whereas the electrophoretic picture of hemoglobin in these two subspecies was found to be different.