Náttúrufræðingurinn - 1990, Page 44

er than in man and about 2 times lower
than in domestic animals. No correlation
was found between serum cortisol or se-
rum urea levels and the time spent chasing
the whales before harpooning. Cortisol
levels showed no pattern in relation to the
time of day at which the whales were
caught.
Serum aldosterone levels in whales
were found to be about 2 times higher
than those in supine man.
Mean urinary potassium and urea con-
centration were similar, while those of so-
dium and chloride were 50% higher than
those in man but well below levels found
in sea water. The mean pH and osmolality
values of the whale urine were slightly
higher than those of man.
It is concluded that 1) the fin whale has
adjusted to its marine environment with a
small rise in serum electrolytes and their
increased excretion in urine, 2) that the
low levels of uric acid would indicate an
efficient renal mechanism, 3) that the
whales do not seem to respond to stress by
elevation of serum levels of cortisol or
urea and 4) that the whales might not
have regular sleeping or feeding hours,
since neither cortisol nor triglycerides
were found to show any pattern in relation
to the time of day when the whale was
caught.
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