Ammonia Tolerance of the California Leaf-Nosed Bat

Abstract

A series of 59 California leaf-nosed bats, Macrotus californicus, was exposed to varying concentrations of anhydrous ammonia. Physiologic responses noted in the bat were compared to the same responses as recorded in the literature for man and other experimental animals.

Recordings were made for the following: cardiac and respiratory rates, blood non-protein nitrogen, urine urea and ammonia and animal and gassing chamber temperatures.

An elevation of non-protein nitrogen over the mean normal was evident but no significant elevation of urine urea and ammonia was noted. Resistance to the gas was demonstrated by decreases in respiratory and cardiac rates. Toxic manifestations attributable to ammonia were noted in distinct visceral damage, corrosion of the skin and mucous membranes and pulmonary edema. Maximum sublethal concentration tolerated for an exposure time of 9 hours was 3,000 ppm.