... biomarker, or uncoupling protein 3. Histology shows blood vessels in close proximity to each other, suggesting it may serve as a vascular rete, perhaps to preferentially warm the eye and brain during arousals. * Author for correspondence ( [email protected] ) Competing interests The authors...

... declared. 28 2 2013 28 5 2013 © 2013. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd 2013 harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena whale Cetacea rete diving The presence of elaborate arterial retia (without any venous companion) in the thoracic region of cetaceans was probably...

... heat exchange arterio-venous shunt rete hypoxia When seals undergo experimental dives they reduce their cardiac output to about 10% of the pre-dive value, primarily as a result of a profound bradycardia, to compensate for a selective peripheral arterial vasoconstriction. This ensures...