Sodium Regulation in the Freshwater Mollusc Limnaea Stagnalis (L.) (Gastropoda: Pulmonata)

1970 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
PETER GREENAWAY

1. Sodium regulation in normal, sodium-depleted and blood-depleted snails has been investigated. 2. Limnaea stagnalis has a sodium uptake mechanism with a high affinity for sodium ions, near maximum influx occurring in external sodium concentrations of 1.5-2 mM-Na/l and half maximum influx at 0.25 mM-Na/l. 3. L. stagnalis can maintain sodium balance in media containing 0.025 mM-Na/l. Adaptation to this concentration is achieved mainly by an increased rate of sodium uptake and a fall of 37 % in blood sodium concentration, but also by a reduction of the sodium loss rate and a decrease in blood volume. 4. A loss of 23% of total body sodium is necessary to stimulate increased sodium uptake. This loss causes near maximal stimulation of the sodium uptake mechanism. 5. An experimentally induced reduction of blood volume in L. stagnalis increases sodium uptake to three times the normal level. 6. About 40% of sodium influx from artificial tap water containing 0.35 mM-Na/l into normal snails is due to an exchange component. Similar exchange components of sodium influx were also observed in sodium-depleted and blood-depleted snails in the same external sodium concentration.

1987 ◽  
Vol 131 (1) ◽  
pp. 417-425
Author(s):  
W. J. FRAIN

The relationship between sodium influx and external sodium concentration in Phoxinus is complex and unusual. In non-depleted fish the relationship is approximately that given by the Michaelis-Menten equation of enzyme kinetics. However, the Km value (a measure of the affinity of the sodium uptake mechanism for sodium) is very high (3mmoll−1), indicating a low affinity of the uptake mechanism for sodium. On sodium depletion, the relationship between sodium influx and external sodium concentration changes to produce a curve which has a stepped appearance, and is unusual in that the maximum influx is not increased above that in non-depleted fish. The overall Km alters very little; however, the Km for the lower part of the curve is very low (0.05 mmoll−1). A model is proposed to explain these results in the form of two sodium uptake mechanisms working in parallel across the gill. The second carrier is only active when the fish is sodium-depleted and kept in low external sodium concentrations. Neither the external sodium concentration nor the external calcium concentration has any direct effect on sodium efflux. However, fish depleted in 1 mmoll−1 calcium have a lower sodium efflux than fish depleted in distilled water. Calcium appears to reduce the permeability of the gill to ions such as sodium. Since calcium has no effect on sodium influx, changes in gill permeability do not involve the sodium influxmechanism.


1967 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 499-518
Author(s):  
D. W. SUTCLIFFE

1. Sodium influx and loss rates in Gammarus pulex were measured at constant temperatures. The sodium loss rate was immediately influenced by a change in temperature, with a Q10 of 1.5 to 2.0 at temperatures between 0.3 and 21.5° C. The sodium influx rate is apparently influenced in the same way. 2. The sodium uptake mechanism in G. pulex from three localities was half-saturated at an external concentration of 0.10-0.15 mM/l. sodium. 3. The total sodium loss rate remained approximately constant in animals acclimatized to the range of external concentrations from 2 to about 0.2 mM/l. sodium. 18% of the sodium was lost in urine with a sodium concentration estimated at 30-50 mM/l. The remainder of the sodium loss was due to diffusion across the body surface. 4. In animals acclimatized to concentrations below about 0.2 mM/l. sodium the sodium loss rate was reduced, due to (a) a lower diffusion rate following a fall in the blood sodium concentration, and (b) the elaboration of a more dilute urine. 5. There was a very close association between changes in the blood sodium concentration, the elaboration of a very dilute urine, and the rate of sodium uptake at the body surface. The results indicate that a fall in the blood sodium concentration leads to simultaneous activation of the sodium uptake mechanisms at the body surface and in the antennary glands. 6. It is estimated that, by producing a dilute urine, total sodium uptake in G. pulex is shared equally between the renal uptake mechanism and the mechanism situated at the body surface. 7. In sea-water media G. pulex drinks and expels fluid from the gut. In a medium slightly hyperosmotic to the normal blood concentration the amount imbibed was equal to the normal rate of urine flow when in fresh water.


1975 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-155
Author(s):  
DA Wright

In comparison with other freshwater animals, the sodium uptake mechanism in fourth instar larvae of both C. tentans and C. dorsalis has a moderate affinity for sodium. In both species half maximum influx (Km) occurs at about 0.57 mM-Na+ and is unaltered by salt depletion. Maximum influx is achieved in steady-state C. tentans at 1.9 mM-Na+, and in steady-state C. dorsalis at 3.0 mM-Na+. Both of these values increase on depletion. Efflux also appears to be saturable at higher external sodium concentrations. In C. tentans, sodium may be transported independently of chloride, although it seems likely that sodium movement is enhanced by chloride. Sulphate strongly inhibits sodium influx. Nitrate apparently inhibits sodium influx at low concentrations, but this inhibition is progressively overcome at external sodium concentrations approaching 4 mM. A number of cations interfere with sodium influx in depleted C. tentans, notably H+, Li+ and, to a lesser extent NH4+. It is suggested that these ions compete with sodium for carrier sites. Potassium is apparently transported independently of sodium.


1960 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-128
Author(s):  
G. W. BRYAN

1. In external sodium concentrations of up to 100 mM./l. the blood sodium concentration of Astacus is only slightly increased. As the external level approaches or exceeds the normal blood sodium concentration of 200 mM./l. so the increase becomes more marked. Similarly, there is an increase in urine sodium concentration. This net gain of sodium is accompanied by a considerable rise in sodium outflux as shown by 22Na. At external concentrations exceeding 300 mM./l., blood and urine concentrations rise to a similar level and active sodium movements appear to cease. 2. With increased blood sodium concentration the level in the muscles rises also. This relationship is not one of simple proportion and at high concentrations there is relatively more sodium in the muscles. 3. In artificial tap water animals with a high blood concentration lose sodium until the normal level is regained. This net loss is due to influx being much lower and outflux much higher than normal. Of the outflux, up to 70% is initially due to renal losses and losses over the body surface are higher than normal due to the excess sodium in the blood. 4. From the results given in this and previous papers the way in which sodium balance may be achieved under normal conditions is discussed.


1960 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-112
Author(s):  
G. W. BRYAN

1. In distilled water or artificial tap water with a very low sodium concentration, sodium uptake by Astacus is prevented or reduced and 22Na outflux is subnormal. This is accounted for to only a small extent by reduced renal sodium losses. 2. Sodium-depleted animals replaced in artificial tap water regain sodium in a roughly exponential manner. This is shown by 22Na to be the result of a considerable increase in sodium influx coupled with an increased but lower outflux. 3. Sodium outfiux appears to consist of three components: urine losses, passive diffusion losses over the body surface and what may be an ‘exchange diffusion’ component which is high during high influx and minimal in distilled water. This latter component represents about 30% of sodium exchange under normal conditions. 4. Eyestalk removal did not affect the ability of Astacus to absorb sodium. 5. In starved animals the gills take up most of the sodium absorbed and the gut is relatively unimportant. 6. Silver staining of the gills is a passive process and the cuticle of the branchial filaments of the gill stem is selectively stained. This region would be a suitable site for ion uptake mechanisms.


1961 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
J. SHAW ◽  
D. W. SUTCLIFFE

1. The mechanisms of sodium balance in Gammarus duebeni and G. pulex, adapted to various external concentrations, were compared. 2. G. duebeni could be adapted to live in 1 mm/l. NaCl solution and, in some cases, to concentrations down to 0.2 mM/l. G. pulex could survive in concentrations as low as 0.06 mM/l. 3. The sodium loss rate in G. duebeni adapted to 2% sea water was much higher than in G. pulex but was reduced to about the same level when the animals were adapted to low external concentrations. 4. In both species there was a non-linear relationship between sodium influx and the external sodium concentration. In G. duebeni the uptake mechanism was saturated at an external concentration of about 10 mM/l., whereas in G. pulex saturation was reached at a much lower concentration. The maximum rate of uptake was greater in G. duebeni than in G. pulex. 5. In both species adaptation to low concentrations involved a small increase in the sodium influx and a reduction in the loss rate. 6. The most important factor in the superiority of G. pulex over G. duebeni in surviving at low external concentrations is the high affinity for sodium displayed by the uptake mechanism in G. pulex.


1961 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-152
Author(s):  
J. SHAW

1. The mechanism of sodium balance in Carcinus maenas has been investigated. 2. Measurements of sodium outflux showed no evidence of a decrease in surface permeability to sodium in dilute sea water. 3. The rate of urine production in normal sea water was 3.6% body weight per day and the sodium loss through the urine was insignificant compared with the total sodium loss. In 40% sea water the urine rate was increased to 30% body weight per day and the loss in the urine accounted for 20% of the total loss. 4. Measurements of sodium influx and calculation of the active component showed that the active uptake mechanism was fully saturated at all external concentrations in which the animals could survive. 5. Regulation of the blood sodium concentration is effected largely by the activation of the sodium uptake mechanism. This prevents the blood concentration falling below a critical level as long as the external concentration itself is not too low.


1965 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. STOBBART

1. Starved 4th-instar larvae of Aädes aegypti, when put into deionized water at a density of ten larvae/20 ml., are able to achieve sodium balance at the low external concentration of 5µM Na/l. 2. The balancing process involves a 10% drop in total sodium content, a more or less complete activation of the mechanism for sodium transport, and a reduction in the permeability of the larva to sodium as measured by the net sodium loss into deionized water. It is very probable that most of this reduction occurs in the anal papillae. 3. The relationship between external sodium concentration and sodium influx in larvae previously ‘balanced’ in deionized water is described approximately by the Michaelis equation. The sodium outflux also increases with increasing external sodium concentrations. 4. The net uptake of sodium by ‘balanced larvae’ appears to be significantly greater from solutions of NaCl than from solutions of NaNO3 NaHCO3 and Na2SO4. 5. The ions K+ Ca++ Mg++ and NH4+ when present as chlorides stimulate the influx of sodium from 0.1 mM/l. sodium chloride. When present as nitrates or sulphates they either have no effect or cause an inhibition of influx. 6. The results in 4 and 5 suggest that movements of chloride may be important in sodium uptake, and chloride uptake has been found to occur independently of sodium uptake. Measurements of potential difference between haemolymph and medium demonstrate active transport of both sodium and chloride.


1960 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. BRYAN

1. In Bristol tap water containing 0.4 mM./l. sodium and artificial tap water containing 2 mM./l. sodium, Astacus maintains a blood sodium concentration of about 203 mM./l. This value was not markedly affected by starvation periods of up to a month. 2. Methods of taking small blood and urine samples from individual crayfish at intervals over several hundred hours have been described. 3. Under steady state conditions, curves for the uptake and loss of 22Na by the blood are described by equations derived for a one-compartment system. 4. The volume of this single compartment, which exchanges sodium with the medium, is larger than the actual blood volume by an amount roughly equivalent to the sodium in the tissues. Exchange of sodium between the blood and tissues is probably very rapid. 5. Sodium losses in the urine account for about 6% of the total sodium outflux found using 22Na. The urine sodium concentration of about 6 mM./l. was temporarily increased by conditions such as heavy feeding when the blood may have gained additional sodium. 6. Potential difference measurements across the body surface indicate that the high blood sodium concentration is maintained by active uptake of sodium.


1975 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-139
Author(s):  
DA Wright

Sodium regulation was studied in fourth instar larvae of Chironomus dorsalis and Camptochironomus tentans. Both maintain a body sodium level well above that of the surrounding medium. The haemolymph contains approximately 90% of total body sodium and approximates to a single compartment freely exchanging sodium with the external medium. The anal papillae play a primary role in sodium regulation, the gut being in secondary importance. Sodium regulation in both species is comparatively insensitive to alterations in acclimatization temperature. C. dorsalis and C. tentans are capable of maintaining sodium balance in media containing 10 mumole Na and 25 mumole Na respectively. When exposed to several changes of distilled water, C. tentansis capable of reducing sodium loss by elaboration of a more dilute urine. This is apparently,supplemented by a reduction in the permeability of the body surface. Activation of sodium uptake in both species is comparatively sluggish, with influx reaching a maximum only after the loss of greater than 30% body sodium.


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