The aim of this project is to study and describe the effects of external stimuli on the cardiovascular system in different fish and reptile species. The focus is on regional blood distribution mainly the gastrointestinal blood flow supply and how this is affected by feeding, exercise and stress. After a successful development of a new blood flow telemetric system we are moving into an new area were we for the first time will be able to study free ranging animals in both more controlled lab environment and in their natural environment.
These studies will be complemented with traditional lab based in vivo and in vitro studies in combination with immunohistological methods for localization and quantification of different putative substances involved in the regulation of the cardiovascular system and in particular the gastrointestinal vasculature. The main part of the project is on fish and it is divided into four smaller but related sub-projects all related to regional blood flow distribution.
A smaller field project on reptile haemodynamics using the large-animal telemetric system developed will be conducted. One important part of our work in the group is to refine and develop new surgical protocols and procedures and new scientific tools. One of these new tools is a remote injector that will enable us to continue the pharmacological studies even in the animals equipped with the blood flow telemetric systems. The mechanism is patented and we will now start long term tests.
The project is a collaboration between the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat and the American National Science Foundation (NSF). The participants will be staying at the American McMurdo station.
Principal Investigator: Michael Axelsson, University of Gothenburg
19 October: Arriving in Christchurch, New Zeeland
24 October: Christchurch–McMurdo
30 November: McMurdo–Christchurch
5 December: Christchurch–Sweden
Satellite image of McMurdo. Show large map