Prolongation of Clotting Time in Dormant Estivating Mammals

Abstract
A prolongation of blood-clotting time was found in a group of ground squirrels. The clotting time averaged twice as long in dormant animals by the Lee and White method than in the active animal, and was increased 5-fold by the capillary tube method. During estivation, the heart beats slowly with a comparable decrease in rate of blood flow and hence the prolongation of clotting time is a remarkable adaptation to the dormant state. The danger of thrombus formation is considerably reduced while the possibility of traumatic bleeding is unlikely during estivation.

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