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A Re-Evaluation of the Clotting Time of Chicken Blood

Nature volume 186, page 644 (1960)Cite this article

Abstract

THE blood coagulation mechanism of the chicken appears to differ greatly from that of mammals, in that its clotting time can exceed 1 hr. Recent literature assumes the chicken to have a blood-clotting time in a range similar to the higher mammals. Dukes1 quotes Amendt (1922) as finding this to be 4.5 min. ; Johnson and Connor2 found an average of 6 min. 21 sec. with a range of 1–14 min. ; while Didisheim et al. 3 query their recorded time of 9 min. in glass and 10 min. with siliconized equipment at 37° C. Howell4, however, in 1909 infers that it is common knowledge that the blood of birds, terrapins and horses clots slowly. In 19405 he indicates that prolonged clotting time of hours or days in lower vertebrates (birds, reptiles and fishes) is due to the lack of “thromboplastic substance” within the vessels while prompt clotting is brought about by an active “thromboplastic tissue extract”.

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References

  1. Dukes, H. H., “The Physiology of Domestic Animals”, 7, 55 (Cornell University Press, New York, 1955).

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  2. Johnson, E. P., and Connor, B. V., J. Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc., 83, New Ser., 37, 325 (1933).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta

    C. H. BIGLAND & D. C. TRIANTAPHYLLOPOULOS

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  1. C. H. BIGLAND
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  2. D. C. TRIANTAPHYLLOPOULOS
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BIGLAND, C., TRIANTAPHYLLOPOULOS, D. A Re-Evaluation of the Clotting Time of Chicken Blood. Nature 186, 644 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1038/186644a0

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