Book Description

Alligator Metabolism: Studies on Chemical Reactions in Vivo presents a summary of research in vivo on the metabolism of alligators. The volume contains updates of earlier investigations which were presented in Biochemistry of the Alligator, a Study of Metabolism in Slow Motion (1964). Since then, with the aid of better equipment and better methods, it seemed time to correlate and summarize the findings of researchers who have used this remarkable experimental animal with profit. The primary purpose of almost all the research was not to determine the nature of the alligator, but to understand biochemical reactions in vivo and the alligator was a means to that end. The book begins with a chapter on natural history for those scientists, wild-life experts, alligator farmers, zoo keepers etc., whose primary interest is in the nature and habits of the intact alligator. This is followed by separate chapters that deal with metabolic rate, anaerobic glycolysis, digestion-growth-protein synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, respiration and acid-base balance, and kidney function.