PWee50 oxygen equilibrium curve analyzer

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The funding requested in this grant application is to support the purchase of a PWee50 oxygen equilibrium curve Analyser (PWee50 Analyser) for quantifying the oxygen transport characteristics of the blood, the latter of which represents one of the most important levels at which animals can adapt and/or acclimate to different environmental challenges, a common research theme of the co-applicants. The PWee50 Analyser is unique in that it can generate a complete oxygen equilibrium curve on whole blood or isolated haemoglobins on very small volumes (0.5 µl), rapidly (within 1h) in a fully automated fashion. Furthermore, unlike previous spectrophotometric systems (which are no longer commercially available), this system can account for the high pH sensitivity of fish Hbs known as the Root effect. This system is an essential core component of the NSERC Discovery Grant funded research programs of C.J. Brauner, A.P. Farrell, W.K. Milsom and J.G. Richards. C.J. Brauner will use the PWee50 Analyser to further investigate a novel mechanism for enhanced oxygen delivery in fishes associated with the Root effect and the physiological basis for exceptional CO2 tolerance in fish. A.P. Farrell will use the PWee50 Analyser to further understand the cardiorespiratory function of fish at extremely warm temperatures and the mechanisms for cardiac tolerance of hypoxia and anoxia among fishes. W.K. Milsom depends upon the PWee50 Analyser to gain insight into adaptations related to hibernation and high altitude flight by characterizing the blood of embryonic, neonatal and adult hibernators and non-hibernators and in a multi-species comparison of high and low altitude water-fowl. J.G. Richards will further investigate the mechanisms and evolution of hypoxia tolerance in 11 species of sculpin (a group of small intertidal fish), which are distributed along the near shore marine environment. The PWee50 Analyser is the only commercially available system that can conduct the proposed measurements on small volumes of blood which is a pre-requisite for this NSERC funded proposed research.