Table 1

Erythrocyte functions in vertebrates.

Proposed functions

Mammals

Fish

Amphibian

Reptils

Birds

Gas exchange function

[18]

[18]

[18]

[18]

[18]

Sugar transport

[19]

[26]

[34]

[36]

[40]

Calcium homeostasis

[20]

[27]

[35]

[37]

[41]

Redox homeostasis

[17]

[28]

-

[38]

[42]

Cell proliferation

[21]

-

-

-

[43]

Antiviral response

[29]

-

-

-

Antimicrobial activity

Immune complex

[22]

[30]

-

-

-

ROS production

[23]

[31]

-

-

-

Hemoglobin

[24]

[32]

-

[39]

-

Other related functions

[25]

[33]

-

-

[44]

Table reports functions associated to erythrocytes in mammals, fish, amphibian, reptiles and birds. References are numbered according to appearance.

Morera and MacKenzie Veterinary Research 2011 42:89   doi:10.1186/1297-9716-42-89