The Water Relations of Earthworms

1956 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
BETTY I. ROOTS
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Water Relations ◽  
Filter Paper ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Lumbricus Terrestris ◽  
The Body ◽  
Glass Tubes ◽  
Allolobophora Chlorotica

1. The water content of Lumbricus terrestris, after keeping on moist filter-paper for 3 or 4 days, is 84.8% of its body weight. That of Allolobophora chlorotica is 80% of its body weight. Both species can survive a loss of 60% of the body weight, but not much more. 2. Earthworms of the species A. chlorotica, A. terrestris f. longa, Dendrobaena subrubicunda, L. rubellus and L. terrestris are all able to survive from 31 to 50 weeks in soil totally submerged beneath aerated water. The same species, and A. caliginosa can survive for 72-137 days in aerated tap water without food. 3. Garden specimens of A. chlorotica make U-shaped burrows in soil beneath water. They do not irrigate either the burrows or glass tubes. Egg-cocoons of A. chlorotica, taken from culture pots of soil, will hatch under water and the young worms will feed and grow though totally immersed.

Specific Susceptibility to HCN and the amount of HCN recovered from Fumigated Insects

1951 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 399-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Pradhan ◽  
S. C. Bhatia
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Relative Position ◽  
Surface Resistance ◽  
Internal Resistance ◽  
Effective Resistance ◽  
The Body ◽  
Effective Dosage ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
The Dead

The relationship was studied between susceptibility of a number of different species of insects to HCN fumigation and the recovery of HCN from them immediately after fumigation.The test insects used were Tribolium castaneum, seventh stage caterpillars of Corcyra cephalonica, first-and second-instar nymphs of Drosicha sp., third-and fourthinstar nymphs of Drosicha sp. and adult females of Drosicha sp.The apparatus and methods used in the fumigation and in the recovery of HCN from the fumigated insects are fully described.Preliminary expsriments showed that the processes of distillation and redistillation did not affect the recovery of HCN but that the result obtained for recovery from distillation could be affected if some volatile reducing substance were produced and carried over to the distillate. It was found that this did actually take place in the case of one of the test insects—T. castaneum—but that redistillation got rid of the impurity.In the main experiments it was shown that, on the assumption that the concentration of HCN to which insects are exposed is the effective dosage, the susceptibility of the test insects varied in the following descending order : firstand second-stage nymphs of Drosicha sp. > third- and fourth-stage nymphs of Drosicha sp.>C. cephalonica> T. castaneum>the adult females of Drosicha sp.When the same insects were arranged in descending order of the quantities of HCN recovered per 100 gm. of body weight, the order was identical except for the nymphs of Drosicha sp. which occupied a different relative position. The two categories of nymphs of Drosicha sp. were found to occupy a different relative position again with regard to the other three test insects when exposed to a superlethal concentration and assessed for recovery of HCN per 100 gr. body weight.Parallel batches of T. castaneum and C. cephalonica were fumigated and the HCN was recovered from the dead and survivors. More HCN was recovered from the dead insects than from those that survived.Both recovery and sorption of HCN were estimated separately in parallel batches of insects (adult females of Drosicha sp. and C. cephalonica). Recovery was found to be less than sorption showing that a part of the HCN absorbed is converted into a non-recoverable state. Further, that the weight of HCN sorbed per gram body weight of adult females of Drosicha sp. is much less than in the case of C. cephalonica under similar conditions of fumigation and that the amount of HCN converted into non-recoverable products is less in Drosicha adults than in C. cephalonica.A comparison of the water content of T. castaneum, C. cephalonica and Drosicha sp. (adults) showed that there was a positive correlation between water content and higher susceptibility to HCN and greater recovery of HCN was also indicated. It is suggested that this may be a factor in the “ Surface Resistance ” of an insec to a fumigant.The observations of previous workers that larger amounts are sorbed by or recovered (after fumigation) from more susceptible species than for those less susceptible was corroborated by the results obtained with C. cephalonica, T. castaneum and adult females of Drosicha sp. but not with those from nymphs of Drosicha sp.When dosage-mortality graphs were prepared by taking the amount of HCN recovered per gram body weight as an index of internal dose, the order of resistance of different test insects based on this new criterion was found to be entirely different from that based on the usual criterion of the concentration of HCN in the fumatorium being the index of effective dosage.These apparently anomalous observations may be explained by assuming that the resistance shown by an insect in an actual fumigation operation, i.e., to the concentration of HCN to which it is exposed (external dose) is what may be called the total “ Effective Resistance ” and that this “ Effective Resistance ” is the resultant of (a) “ Surface Resistance ” to the entry of fumigant and (b) “ Internal Resistance ” to the amount of HCN which actually gains entry into the body in some way or other. Thus the “Effective Resistance ” of an insect may be due to a combination either of low “ Surface Resistance ” and high “ Internal Resistance ”, giving a very low “ Effective Resistance ” as in the case of C. cephalonica, or vice versa giving the maximum “ Effective Resistance ” as in adult females of Drosicha sp. The lower recovery of HCN from the nymphs of Drosicha sp., although they were more susceptible to fumigation than C. cephalonica, is explained by their higher “ Surface Resistance ” combined with a very much lower “ Internal Resistance ”, leading to a lower “ Effective Resistance ”.

Effects of altitude acclimatization on rat myoglobin. Changes in myoglobin content of skeletal and cardiac muscle

1959 ◽  
Vol 196 (3) ◽  
pp. 512-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Anthony ◽  
Eugene Ackerman ◽  
G. K. Strother
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Cardiac Muscle ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Skeletal Muscles ◽  
The Body ◽  
Continuous Exposure ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Body Weight Changes ◽  
Muscle Weight

Analyses were made of myoglobin content of rat skeletal and cardiac muscle following continuous exposure to simulated altitudes of 18,000 feet for a 2–10-week period. About five dozen rats were used. Acclimatization was associated with an increase in the myoglobin concentration of thigh, diaphragm, gastrocnemius and heart muscles. Total myoglobin content, however, increased during acclimatization in cardiac muscle but not in the three skeletal muscles. This finding together with the body weight changes and muscle weight changes suggested that the increases in myoglobin concentration of skeletal muscle may be merely a reflection of a decreased water content of muscles.

The influence of long-term melatonin administration on basic physiological and metabolic variables of young Wistar:Han rats

Biologia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Kassayová ◽  
Martina Marková ◽  
Bianka Bojková ◽  
Eva Adámeková ◽  
Peter Kubatka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Water Intake ◽  
Glucose Concentration ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Serum Glucose ◽  
The Body ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Epididymal Fat ◽  
Food And Water Intake

AbstractThe question of effects of long-term melatonin (MEL) administration have not yet been explained sufficiently, especially its metabolic consequences in young persons and animals. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of MEL given during prolonged time (for 3 months) and chronically (for 6 months) at the dose of 4 µg/mL of tap water, on the selected metabolic and hormonal parameters in young female and male Wistar:Han (WH) rats. The weights of selected organs, tissues, body weight gains and food and water intake were registered. Six weeks aged rats were adapted to standard housing conditions and light regimen L:D=12:12 h, fed standard laboratory diet and drank tap water (controls) or MEL solution ad libitum; finally they were sacrificed after overnight fasting. Prolonged MEL administration decreased serum glucose concentration and increased triacylglycerol and malondialdehyde concentration/content in the liver in females. In males MEL increased concentrations of serum phospholipids, corticosterone and liver malondialdehyde. MEL treatment reduced the body weight in both sexes and weight of epididymal fat in males, without any alterations of food and water intake. Chronic MEL administration reduced serum glucose concentration and increased concentration/content of glycogen, triacylglycerol and cholesterol in the liver and glycogen concentration/content in heart muscle in males. In females, the significant rise of serum corticosterone concentration and liver malondialdehyde content was recorded. MEL significantly increased liver weight and decreased thymus weight in males. MEL administration increased temporarily water intake in males, body and epididymal fat weights were similar to that in controls. Body weight of MEL drinking females was reduced in the 1st half of experiment only; the food and water intake did not differ from control group. The response in WH rats on MEL was more prominent as in the Sprague-Dawley strain (our previous studies). Male rats were generally more affected, probably due to higher daily and total consumption of melatonin.

Water Content and Water Activity in the Cuticle of Terrestrial Isopods

1972 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-55
Author(s):  
OSSI V. LINDQVIST ◽  
INGA SALMINEN ◽  
PAUL W. WINSTON
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Water Activity ◽  
Equilibrium Points ◽  
The Body ◽  
Porcellio Scaber ◽  
Terrestrial Isopods ◽  
Osmotic Equilibrium ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Difference

1. The water content of the cuticle of both desiccated and non-desiccated terrestrial isopods Porcellio scaber and Armadillidium vulgare was measured. The animals were desiccated for various times (up to 3 h) over silica gel and the mean water content of the cuticle was 54.0±0.78% for P. scaber and 52.7±1.11% for A. vulgare. There was no trend as regards the desiccation time, nor did the body weight affect the water content. 2. The water content of the cuticle remained virtually unchanged as long as the animal was alive in the desiccator. It dropped significantly after the animal had died after having lost some 30% of its body weight. 3. The cuticular water content of non-desiccated P. scaber tended to be slightly higher than that of desiccated ones. In A. vulgare no significant difference was observed between non-desiccated and desiccated specimens. 4. The water activity of the excised cuticle of the above two species and of Oniscus asellus and Cylisticus convexus was above that of the haemolymph and therefore not in osmotic equilibrium with it. The osmotic equilibrium points were below the osmotic pressures of the blood; the difference amounted from 1.5 to 2.8 atm. in different species. 5. The difference in water activity between blood and cuticle, the maintenance of water content with desiccation, and the drop in water level at death, all indicate the presence of an active mechanism regulating the cuticular water in terrestrial isopods.

The Effects of Pituitrin and of Narcosis on Water-Regulation in Larval and Metamorphosed Amblystoma

1927 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-96
Author(s):  
J. BĚLEHRÁDEK ◽  
J. S. HUXLEY
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Water Intake ◽  
Larval Stage ◽  
The Body ◽  
Pituitary Extract ◽  
Water Regulation ◽  
Imperfect State ◽  
Water Equilibrium

(1) Injection of post-pituitary extract to larval and adult Amblystoma individuals leads to an increased water-intake, followed by a decrease in water-content the body, the decrease being greater than the preliminary increase. Repeated injections cause decreases of body-weight of over 35 per cent. (2) This effect runs parallel with the chromatophore effect. No change in oxygen consumption could be detected, even with long continued injection. (3) Both larval and metamorphosed Amblystoma lose weight (by loss of water) when narcotised in a solution of amytal 1 : 3000; the loss is greater in larval specimens; the decrease is followed, in metamorphosed animals, by a slight net increase. (4) Both the pituitary effect and the amytal effect develop considerably more quickly in larval than in metamorphosed Amblystoma. (5) The mechanism regulating the water-equilibrium of the body in Amblystoma passes, during metamorphosis, from a relatively imperfect state in the larval stage to a more efficient condition in adult individuals.

THE EFFECT OF ACUTE STARVATION ON THE BODY ORGANS OF THE ADULT WHITE RAT, WITH ESPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE ADRENAL GLANDS

1946 ◽  
Vol 24e (2) ◽  
pp. 37-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. T. Cameron ◽  
J. Carmichael
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Pathological Process ◽  
Solid Content ◽  
The Body ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Typical Behaviour ◽  
B Complex Vitamins ◽  
Increased Activity ◽  
Reticular Zone

When rats are starved by withholding all food, though giving water, they develop, two or threes days before death a typical behaviour syndrome, in winch at first there is increased activity, and subsequently, in old animals, marked immobility. At this pre-mortal stage in old animals, or the corresponding stage in younger rats, they have lost 30% or more of their body weight, and if they killed the adrenals are found to be enlarged and discoloured to a dark grey or dark dirty grey. These enlarged glands contain an increased amount of water though their solid content remains practically unaltered, the change representing an increase in the water content of the cells (possibly confined to the cortex). The glomerular zone is diminished in thickness, and the reticular zone also shows abnormality. Animals killed before they have lost 30% of their body weight still have normal adrenals (normal in size, weight, water content, and colour). The enlargement produced m the pre-mortal stage of inanition is a pathological process and is not a hypertrophy. Data in the literature suggest that certain types of adrenal enlargement such as that produced by deficiency of the B-complex vitamins may be similar in nature. The kidneys, heart, and gonads of acutely starved rats tend to lose weight more slowly than the whole body; the liver and spleen more rapidly; and the thyroid at about the same rate.

scholarly journals Effects of Use Myrtle Oil (Myrtus commonis) on Body Weight and Some Blood Parameters in Local Male Rabbits

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 164-170
Author(s):  
Hawraa Hamed Naji ◽  
Oday Suliaman Khudhair ◽  
Amer Jebur Opyas ◽  
Firas Hussain Kadhim Albawi
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Blood Parameters ◽  
The Body ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Myrtus Communis ◽  
Group 5 ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

Study was conducted to evaluate the effect of (Myrtus communis) oil on the weight of body and  some Hematological in the local male rabbits. (15) rabbits average (1078-1088 ) gram were divided to  (3) groups, every group  (5) rabbits, group (1) the control gives only (0.2) ml tap water orally, while group (2), (3) gives Myrtle oil  (0.1) ml/kg,(0.2) ml/kg respectively orally for (2) month.  We conducted that the administration of Myrtle oil produces a significance decrease (P˂0.01) at 0.1ml/Kg.B.W. and 0.2ml/Kg.B.W in the body weight, there is a significance increase (P˂ 0.05)  at 0.1ml/Kg.B.W.  in values of RBCs, WBCs, Hb and PCV,  there is a significance decrease (P<0.05) at 0.2ml/Kg.B.W. in values of RBCs,WBCs, Hb and PCV. While there is no significance) P˂ 0.05) in the value of PLT. We concluded that, the administration of Myrtle oil in low dose produces good effects whereas administration of it in high dose produce bad effects in the body functions.

BODY WATER OF NEWBORN INFANTS OF DIABETIC MOTHERS

1960 ◽  
Vol XXXIV (II) ◽  
pp. 261-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mogens Osler
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Total Body Water ◽  
Newborn Infants ◽  
Body Water ◽  
The Body ◽  
Intracellular Water ◽  
Extracellular Water ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Diabetic Mothers

ABSTRACT The total body water as well as the distribution of water in the extracellular and intracellular compartments was determined in 23 infants born to diabetic mothers (diab. infants) and 15 infants born to normal mothers (normal infants). The total body water was determined by the dilution method using heavy water, and the extracellular water by the dilution method using thiosulphate. Intracellular water was calculated as total water less extracellular water. The analytical methods are described. Diab. infants proved to have a mean total body water of 2.48 litres or 70.2 per cent of the body weight, a mean extracellular water content of 1.41 litre or 38.5 per cent of the body weight, and a mean intracellular water content of 1.16 litre or 31.8 per cent of the body weight. Normal infants had a mean total body water of 2.58 litres or 78.2 per cent of the body weight, a mean extracellular water content of 1.53 litre or 44.9 per cent of the body weight, and a mean intracellular water content of 1.12 litre or 33.5 per cent of the body weight. The reduction in total and extracellular water in the diab. infants is statistically significant, whereas that of intracellular water is more doubtful. The reduction in total body water means that diab. infants are obese. A marked decrease in total as well as extracellular water without a substantial decrease in intracellular water cannot be due to obesity alone, since fat is assumed to contain more extracellular than intracellular water. Increased deposition of glycogen, which binds water in the cells and constitutes an intermediate product in the transformation of glucose to fat, can explain, when also considering the obesity, the reduction in total and extracellular water without a simultaneous decrease of intracellular water. Considering the influence of insulin, corticosteroids and growth hormone on the body composition, the author concludes that the changes found in the body composition of newborn infants of diabetic mothers (obesity + presumably increased glycogen) may be assumed to be due to maternal hyperglycaemia with consequent foetal hyperglycaemia + hyperinsulinism, but not to an action of maternal growth hormone. In other words, the result supports the so-called hyperglycaemia hypothesis as the cause of the increased weight and changed body composition of the newborn infants of diabetic women.

Involvement of sodium retention hormones during rehydration in humans

1988 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 332-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Nose ◽  
G. W. Mack ◽  
X. R. Shi ◽  
E. R. Nadel
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Plasma Renin Activity ◽  
Plasma Volume ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Control Level ◽  
Plasma Renin ◽  
The Body ◽  
Sodium Retention ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Nacl Solution

We investigated the relation between involuntary dehydration and the mechanisms affecting Na+ retention in the body, focusing on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Six adult males were dehydrated to 2.3% of their body weight by an exercise-heat regimen, followed by rehydration (180 min) with tap water (H2O-R) or 0.45% NaCl solution (Na-R). We measured plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone levels (PA) before dehydration (control), after dehydration, and at 60, 120, and 180 min of rehydration. During the 3-h rehydration period, subjects, restored 51% of the water lost during H2O-R and 71% during Na-R (P less than 0.05). Plasma volume was reduced by an average of 4.5% after dehydration. After 180 min of rehydration, plasma volume restoration during Na-R was to 174% of that lost, and during H2O-R it was to 78% of that lost. We found significant correlations between the change in plasma volume and PRA (r = -0.70, P less than 0.001) and between PRA and PA (r = 0.71, P less than 0.001). In both recovery conditions, PRA increased significantly after dehydration (P less than 0.05) and decreased almost to the control level by 180 min of rehydration, at which time the plasma volume deficit was restored. The change in PA paralleled that in PRA. The rate of sodium excretion was correlated with PA levels in both groups (r = -0.58, P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

scholarly journals Some Aspects of Osmotic Regulation in Lampreys

1956 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 431-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. W. HARDISTY
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Total Concentration ◽  
The Body ◽  
Unit Body Weight ◽  
Lampetra Planeri ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Osmolar Concentration

1. The mean osmolar concentration (expressed as mM. NaCl/1.) of the serum for Lampetra planeri was found to be 110 mM. in the ammocoete and 113 mM. in the adult. For adult L. fluviatilis serum in November the mean osmolar concentration was 143 mM. and in March 136 mM. 2. In adult planeri the Cl concentration of the body fluids accounted for nearly 90% of the total concentration as compared with only 58% in the serum of the ammocoete. Adult fluviatilis kept in tap water throughout the winter appeared to show an increase in Cl levels. 3. Evidence has been produced to support the view that the differences observed in water, fat and Cl content of ammocoete and adult planeri and adult fluviatilis are consequences of the period of starvation preceding sexual maturity. 4. Pronounced seasonal variations have been found in the fat and Cl content of ammocoetes of planeri. 5. The osmotic uptake of water has been determined for adults of both species in fresh water. In planeri the rate of uptake for unit body weight is about four times as great as in fluviatilis. 6. Observations have also been made on the osmotic loss of water of ammocoete and adult planeri and of adult fluviatilis in sea water of different concentrations. For unit body weight osmotic loss of water in planeri is about twice that of fluviatilis. 7. Total losses of Cl have been determined for ammocoete and adult planeri in distilled water and their effects on internal Cl levels have been studied. Observations have also been made on the active uptake of Cl. 8. Acclimatization experiments on ammocoetes and adult planeri and on adult fluviatilis have failed to produce any evidence of regulation in sea water.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document