Seasonal fluctuations in plasma protein fraction levels of chinchillas (Chinchilla laniger, M.).

Seasonal changes in blood plasma protein fractions in chinchilla females and males were found. Plasma albumin levels in both sexes vary according to season, generally low in winter and spring and high in summer and autumn. The levels of alpha 1-globulin and gamma-globulin increase markedly in spring (1.5 times higher than in winter and autumn). In chinchilla females, the levels of alpha 2-globulin and beta 2-globulin varied biphasically, being higher in winter and summer. In males, clear seasonal trends in the levels of both fractions were not observed. The beta 1-globulin fraction levels vary throughout the year. In females as well as males, globulin decreases during winter to minimal values in late spring, and then increases again during the summer to remain at the same level till autumn.