Postnikova G B, Tselikova S V, Ignat'ev D A, Kolaeva S G
Institute of Cell Biophysics of the Russian Acad. Sci., Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia.
Ross Fiziol Zh Im I M Sechenova. 1998 May-Jun;84(5-6):541-6.
Many characteristics of the ground squirrel metmyoglobin (Mb) were found to be similar to those of the pig and different from the whale ones. The Mb content in winter time was 2.5-3.0-fold higher in hibernating and arousing ground squirrels than in alert ones. This seems to be connected with the high demand of oxygen in the muscles at the first stage of arousal.