Some Comparative Aspects of Milk from Four Species of BearsUse of dissociative anesthetics for the immobilization of captive bears: blood gas, hematology and biochemistry values

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1972
Authors:Jenness, R, Erickson, AW, Craighead, JJ, Bush, M, Custer, RS, Smith, EE
Journal:Journal of Mammalogy
Volume:53
Pagination:481-489
Date Published:1972
ISBN Number:00222372
Keywords:Helarctos malayanus, Melursus ursinus, Ursus arctos
Abstract:

Milk specimens obtained from 26 individual bears representing Ursus americanus, U. maritimus, three subspecies of U. arctos, and Helarctos malayanus were analyzed for gross composition and were characterized for carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Bear milks contain high concentrations of fat, proteins, and minerals, but are low in carbohydrates. The lactose content of milk from bears maintained in zoos was much higher than that from wild bears. Myo-inositol was identified as a prominent constituent. The principal fatty acids are palmitic ( C16: 0) and oleic ( C18: 1). Polar bear milk fat, however, has significant concentrations of palmitoleic ( C16: 1) and long chain fatty acids, probably derived from food fat. The caseins of bear milk consist of two principal groups of proteins readily separable by gel electrophoresis. The whey proteins contain five groups of proteins not found in blood. These exhibit evidence of great species specificity and, in some cases, of genetic polymorphism within species.Nineteen bears, representing five species (Helarctos malayanus, Ursus americanus, Ursus arctos, Tremarctos ornatus, Melursus ursinus) were immobilized a total of 52 times using either phencyclidine-promazine or tiletamine-zolazepam. Blood gas, hematology, and serum biochemistry values were determined during the immobilizations. Immobilizations conducted with tiletamine-zolazepam were characterized by rapid induction and recovery times, good muscle relaxation, and relative freedom from convulsions. Bears immobilized with phencyclidine-promazine had longer induction and recovery times and showed convulsive activity in 29% of the trials with that combination.

URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/1378825
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