The Sodium Balance Mechanism in the Fresh-Water Amphipod, Gammarus Lagustris Sars

1967 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 519-528
Author(s):  
D. W. SUTCLIFFE ◽  
J. SHAW

1. The sodium balance mechanism of Gammarus lacustris in fresh water is virtually identical with that found in G. pulex. 2. The sodium transporting system at the body surface has a very high affinity for sodium ions. The system is half-saturated at an external concentration of about 0.14 mM/l. and fully saturated at about 1 mM/l. sodium. 3. The lowest external concentration at which sodium balance was maintained was 0.06 mM/l. 4. Both the total sodium loss rate and the sodium influx rate remained approximately constant in animals acclimatized to the range of external concentrations from 2 to 0.3 mM/l. NaCl. At lower concentrations the loss rate was reduced and the influx increased by a factor of about 1.5. 5. Changes in the sodium influx and loss rates are very closely linked together, and it is shown how these changes are related to the external sodium concentration.

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.


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.


1974 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 719-736
Author(s):  
D. W. SUTCLIFFE

1. The principal features of the sodium regulatory mechanism are compared in Asellus communis Say, A. aquaticus (L.) and A. meridianus Rac. 2. Water content and total concentrations of sodium and chloride are similar in the three species, but they differ with respect to values for Kmax, Km, the loss rate, and the minimum sodium balance concentration. 3. It is suggested that A. meridianus, A. aquaticus and A. communis represent a natural series of increasing adaptation to fresh water. A. communis from North America is completely adapted to fresh water. It has the lowest loss rate, the lowest maximum saturation level (Kmax) for sodium influx, and the highest affinity (low Km value) for sodium ions in the transporting system at the body surface. In many respects A. meridianus resembles freshwater populations of Mesidotea entomon and Gammarus duebeni, and may therefore have had a relatively short history in fresh water.


1970 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-290
Author(s):  
R. MORRIS ◽  
J. M. BULL

1. Sodium influx in ammocoete larvae increases exponentially with external sodium concentration (0-1.0 mM/l.) and sodium-depleted animals show a 20% increase compared with normal animals. 2. Sodium loss decreases as the environmental concentration decreases, although the reverse situation is expected from considering diffusion outflux alone. 3. It is argued that part of the sodium loss is back-transported by the transport mechanism and this accounts for the reduced sodium loss from sodium-depleted animals whose sodium carrier activity is increased. The curves relating back-transport to environmental sodium differ from those derived by Kirschner for isolated frog skin. 4. Sodium influx increases as sodium loss increases, indicating a self mechanism whose features are discussed. In the ammocoete, the sodium carrier mechanism appears to change in affinity for sodium (short-term response) and can also change in concentration (long-term response), and it is suggested that these features, together with permeability changes, may form the basis of the controlling mechanism for sodium balance.


1960 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 548-556
Author(s):  
J. SHAW

1. The effect of various cations in the external solution on the sodium influx in the crayfish, Astacus pallipes, has been studied. 2. Potassium in concentrations up to 4 mM./l. has no significant effect on the sodium influx from 0.05 mM./l. NaCl solutions. 3. Calcium has no effect on the influx in concentrations up to 1 mM./l. At higher concentrations the influx may be reduced in some cases. 4. Magnesium generally increases the influx by about 30%. The effect is not related to the external concentration. 5. Ammonium ions reduce sodium influx. With an ammonium/sodium concentraton ratio of 20:1 the influx is reduced to about 20% of normal. Ammonium ions do not affect the sodium loss rate. 6. Simple substituted ammonium compounds have little effect on the influx. 7. The external hydrogen ion concentration reduces sodium influx if the pH is below 6. At pH 4 the influx is reduced to 20-30% of normal. A low pH does not decrease the rate of sodium loss. 8. The nature of the specific inhibition of sodium influx by ammonium ions is discussed. It is suggested that the ammonium ions interfere with a normal sodium ammonium exchange mechanism.


1959 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. SHAW

1. The mechanisms of salt and water balance in the East African fresh-water crab, Potamon niloticus, have been investigated. 2. The freezing-point depression of the blood is equivalent to that of a 271 mM./l. NaCl solution. 3. The animals cannot survive in solutions more concentrated than 75% sea water. Above the normal blood concentration, the blood osmotic pressure follows that of the medium. 4. The urine is iso-osmotic with the blood and is produced at a very slow rate. The potassium content is only half that of the blood. 5. The animal loses sodium at a rate of 8 µM./10 g./hr. mainly through the body surface. Potassium loss occurs at one-sixteenth of this rate. 6. Sodium balance can be maintained at a minimum external concentration of 0.05 mM./l. Potassium requires a concentration of 0.07 mM./l. 7. Active absorption of both sodium and potassium occurs. The rate of uptake of sodium depends on the extent of previous sodium loss. The rate of sodium uptake may be affected by such environmental factors as the salt content of the water, temperature and oxygen tension. 8. The normal oxygen consumption rate is 0.72 mg./10 g./hr. A minimum of 2.3% is used in doing osmotic work to maintain salt balance. 9. The salt and water balance in Potamon is discussed in relation to the adaptation of the Crustacea to fresh water. The importance of permeability changes is stressed.


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.


1959 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. SHAW

1. The effects of external and internal sodium concentrations on the uptake of sodium ions by the crayfish, Astacus pallipes, has been studied. 2. The normal sodium influx, measured with 24Na, from O.3 mM /l. NaCl solution is 1.5 µM./10 g. body weight/hr. The rate of loss of sodium to de-ionized water has roughly the same value. 3. Net loss of sodium reduces the external sodium concentration required for sodium balance. The minimum equilibrium concentration is about 0.04 mM./l. NaCl. 4. The relation between the external sodium concentration and the sodium influx is non-linear. The influx has a maximum of about 10 µM./10 g./hr. at an external concentration of approx. 1 mM./l. 5. The 24Na influx is a true measure of the sodium uptake rate at low external concentrations. At higher concentrations the influx may exceed the uptake rate by some 20%. 6. Net loss of sodium increases the influx by three to five times. Loss of 5-10% of the total internal sodium increases the influx from the normal to the maximum level. A 1% change has a significant effect on the influx. Changes in the internal sodium content reflect changes of the blood sodium concentration. 7. A scheme is suggested whereby the external and internal sodium concentrations interact together on the influx to produce a self-regulating system which maintains the animal in sodium balance.


1967 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 529-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. SUTCLIFFE

1. A quantitative study of sodium influx and loss rates was made on Gammarus duebeni obtained from brackish-water localities. Both influx and loss rates were immediately doubled by a rise in temperature from 10 to 20° C. 2. It is estimated that when animals are fully acclimatized to a series of media decreasing from 50 to 2% sea water the rate of sodium uptake at the body surface is doubled to balance the rate of sodium loss, which is also doubled. The increased loss rate is due equally to an increase in the rate of diffusion across the body surface and to loss in hypotonic urine containing about 160-190 mM/l. sodium. Diffusion losses normally account for at least 35% of the total losses, even when the urine is isotonic with the blood. 3. The sodium-transporting system at the body surface is fully saturated at an external concentration of about 10 mM/l. NaCl (2% sea water). The system has a low affinity for sodium ions and is only half-saturated at 1.5-2.5 mM/l. sodium. The overall rate of uptake is increased to its maximum rate to balance sodium losses when in fresh water. 4. When acclimatized to fresh water (0.25 mM/l. NaCl) the sodium loss rate is greatly reduced. This was partly due to a lower rate of diffusion across the body surface following a fall in the blood sodium concentration, and mainly due to elaboration of a very dilute urine. 5. It is suggested that increases in sodium uptake in the antennary glands, resulting in a hypotonic urine, are linked with increases in uptake at the body surface. Both uptake systems are possibly activated by a single internal regulator responding to changes in the blood concentration. 6. Sodium regulation at concentrations below 10 mM/l. NaCl was examined in G. duebeni obtained from fresh-water streams on the Lizard peninsula, the Kintyre peninsula, and the Isle of Man. The regulation of sodium uptake and loss is very similar to regulation in brackish-water animals, and the sodium-transporting system has the same low affinity for sodium ions at concentrations below about 10 mM/l. 7. It is suggested that fresh-water localities in north-west Europe, excluding Ireland, have been colonized from brackish water without any modifications in the sodium-regulatory mechanism. But the fresh-water animals tolerate very low sodium concentrations better than brackish-water animals. This is apparently due to natural selection of individuals in which the sodium uptake rate is higher than the average uptake rate in brackish-water animals.


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.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document