Phosphate compounds in the red blood cells of vertebrates play an important role in modulating haemoglobin function whereby tissue oxygenation is maintained despite changes in both environmental oxygen supply and metabolic demand. Three examples from Gordon Grigg's work on aquatic ectotherms illustrate how our thinking has developed in terms of adaptive responses to seasonal temperature changes, environmental hypoxia, and ontogeny.

Bartlett, G.R. 1980. Phosphate compounds in vertebrate red blood cells. American Zoologist 20: 103-114.
Phosphate compounds in vertebrate red blood cells
American Zoologist
, vol. 
20
 (pg. 
103
-
114
)
Benesch, R., Benesch, R.E. 1969. Intracellular organic phosphates as regulators of oxygen release by haemoglobin. Nature 221: 618-622.
Intracellular organic phosphates as regulators of oxygen release by haemoglobin
Nature
, vol. 
221
 (pg. 
618
-
622
)
Bragg, L., Perutz, M.F. 1952. The structure of haemoglobin. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, A 213: 425-435.
The structure of haemoglobin
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, A
, vol. 
213
 (pg. 
425
-
435
)
Brittain, T., Wells, R.M. 1991. An investigation of the co-operative functioning of the haemoglobin of the crocodile, Crocodylus porosus. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 98B: 641-646.
An investigation of the co-operative functioning of the haemoglobin of the crocodile, Crocodylus porosus
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology
, vol. 
98B
 (pg. 
641
-
646
)
Dobson, G.P., Baldwin, J. 1982. Regulation of blood oxygen affinity in the Australian blackfish Gadopsis marmoratus II. Thermal acclimation. Journal of Experimental Biology 99: 245-254).
Regulation of blood oxygen affinity in the Australian blackfish Gadopsis marmoratus II. Thermal acclimation
Journal of Experimental Biology
, vol. 
99
 (pg. 
245
-
254
)
Eastman, J.T., 1993. Antarctic Fish Biology. Evolution in a Unique Environment. Academic Press, New York.
Evolution in a Unique Environment
Frietsch, T., Lenz, C., Waschke, K.F. 1998. Artificial oxygen carriers. European Journal of Anaesthesiology 15: 571-584.
Artificial oxygen carriers
European Journal of Anaesthesiology
, vol. 
15
 (pg. 
571
-
584
)
Grigg, G.C. 1969. Temperature-induced changes in the oxygen equilibrium curve of the blood of the brown bullhead, Ictalurus nebulosus. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 28: 1203-1223.
Temperature-induced changes in the oxygen equilibrium curve of the blood of the brown bullhead, Ictalurus nebulosus
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology
, vol. 
28
 (pg. 
1203
-
1223
)
Grigg, G.C., Cairncross, M. 1980. Respiratory properties of the blood of Crocodylus porosus. Respiration Physiology 41: 367-380.
Respiratory properties of the blood of Crocodylus porosus
Respiration Physiology
, vol. 
41
 (pg. 
367
-
380
)
Grigg, G.C., Grucca, M. 1979. Possible adaptive significance of low red cell organic phosphates in crocodiles. Journal of Experimental Zoology 209: 161-167.
Possible adaptive significance of low red cell organic phosphates in crocodiles
Journal of Experimental Zoology
, vol. 
209
 (pg. 
161
-
167
)
Grigg, G.C., Wells, R.M.G., Beard, L.A. 1993. Allosteric control of oxygen binding by haemoglobin during embryonic development in the crocodile Crocodylus porosus: the role of red cell organic phosphates and carbon dioxide. Journal of Experimental Biology 175: 15-32.
Allosteric control of oxygen binding by haemoglobin during embryonic development in the crocodile Crocodylus porosus: the role of red cell organic phosphates and carbon dioxide
Journal of Experimental Biology
, vol. 
175
 (pg. 
15
-
32
)
Jensen, F.B., Weber, R.E. 1982. Respiratory properties of tench blood and hemoglobin adaptation to hypoxic-hypercapnic water. Molecular Physiology 2: 235-250.
Respiratory properties of tench blood and hemoglobin adaptation to hypoxic-hypercapnic water
Molecular Physiology
, vol. 
2
 (pg. 
235
-
250
)
Laurensen, J.S., Andersen, N.A., Lykkeboe, G. 1985. Temperature acclimation and oxygen binding properties of blood of the European eel, Anguilla anguilla. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 81A: 79-86.
Temperature acclimation and oxygen binding properties of blood of the European eel, Anguilla anguilla
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology
, vol. 
81A
 (pg. 
79
-
86
)
Perutz, M.F., Rossmann, M.G., Cullis, A.F., Muirhead, H., Will, G., North, A.C.T. 1960. Structure of haemoglobin: a three-dimensional Fourier synthesis at 5.5 Å resolution, obtained by X-ray analysis. Nature 185: 416-422.
Structure of haemoglobin: a three-dimensional Fourier synthesis at 5.5 Å resolution, obtained by X-ray analysis
Nature
, vol. 
185
 (pg. 
416
-
422
)
Popper, K.R. 1972. The Logic of Scientific Discovery. Hutchinson and Co., London.
The Logic of Scientific Discovery
Schmidt-Nielsen, K., Taylor, C.R. 1968. Red blood cells: why or why not? Science, New York 162: 274-275.
Red blood cells: why or why not?
Science, New York
, vol. 
162
 (pg. 
274
-
275
)
Val, A.L. 2000. Organic phosphates in the red blood cells of fish. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 125A: 417-435.
Organic phosphates in the red blood cells of fish
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology
, vol. 
125A
 (pg. 
417
-
435
)
Wells, R.M.G. 1999. Haemoglobin function in aquatic animals: molecular adaptation to environmental challenge. Marine and Freshwater Research 50: 933-939.
Haemoglobin function in aquatic animals: molecular adaptation to environmental challenge
Marine and Freshwater Research
, vol. 
50
 (pg. 
933
-
939
)
Wells, R.M.G. 2005. Blood-gas transport and hemoglobin function in polar fishes: does low temperature explain physiological characters? Pp. 282-316 in The Physiology of Polar Fishes Vol. 22 Fish Physiology edited by A.P. Farrell and J.F. Steffensen. Elsevier Academic Press, Amsterdam.
The Physiology of Polar Fishes Vol. 22 Fish Physiology
(pg. 
282
-
316
)
Wells, R.M.G., Beard, L.A., Grigg, G.C. 1991. Blood viscosity and hematocrit in the estuarine crocodile, Crocodylus porosus. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 99A: 411-414.
Blood viscosity and hematocrit in the estuarine crocodile, Crocodylus porosus
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology
, vol. 
99A
 (pg. 
411
-
414
)
Wells, R.M.G., Grigg, G.C., Beard, L.A., Summers, G. 1989. Hypoxic responses in a fish from a stable environment: blood oxygen transport in the Antarctic fish Pagothenia borchgrevinki. Journal of Experimental Biology 141: 97-111.
Hypoxic responses in a fish from a stable environment: blood oxygen transport in the Antarctic fish Pagothenia borchgrevinki
Journal of Experimental Biology
, vol. 
141
 (pg. 
97
-
111
)
Wells, R.M.G., Macdonald, J.A., DiPrisco, G. 1990. Thin-blooded Antarctic fishes: a rheological comparison of the haemoglobin-free icefishes Chionodraco kathleenae and Cryodraco antarcticus with a red-blooded nototheniid, Pagothenia bernacchii. Journal of Fish Biology 36: 595-609.
Thin-blooded Antarctic fishes: a rheological comparison of the haemoglobin-free icefishes Chionodraco kathleenae and Cryodraco antarcticus with a red-blooded nototheniid, Pagothenia bernacchii
Journal of Fish Biology
, vol. 
36
 (pg. 
595
-
609
)
Wilhelm, D. Filho, Marcon, J.L., Caprario, F.X., Nillis, A.C. 1992. Erythrocytic nucleoside triphosphates in marine fish. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 102A: 323-331.
Erythrocytic nucleoside triphosphates in marine fish
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology
, vol. 
102A
 (pg. 
323
-
331
)
Wood, S.C., Johansen, K. 1972. Adaptation to hypoxia by increased HbO2 affinity and decreased red cell ATP concent6ration. Nature New Biology 237: 278-279.
Adaptation to hypoxia by increased HbO2 affinity and decreased red cell ATP concent6ration
Nature New Biology
, vol. 
237
 (pg. 
278
-
279
)
This content is only available as a PDF.