Hyperosmotic properties of the fluids of the perivisceral coelom and water vascular system of starfish kept under stable conditions

• 1.1. Osmotic measurements were made on the perivisceral coelomic and water vascular fluids of 4 species of northwest Pacific starfish and their stable sea-water media.
• 2.2. Mean levels of both fluids were hyperosmotic in every species, often at statistically significant levels.
• 3.3. For all species combined, mean hyperosmolality (mosmol/kg ± SE) of perivisceral coelomic fluid was 1.49 ± 0.17, and water vascular fluid 6.07 ± 0.74.
• 4.4. The hyperosmotic nature of these fluids contributes to water balance, working in conjunction with madreporitic inflow and other factors.

     

Changes in plasma and coelomic fluid composition of the mature salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) during freshwater adaptation

• 1.1. A large amount of coelomic fluid appears at the moment of ovulation in Salmonidae, and the ovulated eggs lie free in the body cavity.
• 2.2. Ion composition and osmolality of the coelomic fluid of the mature female salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, were approximately the same as those of the blood plasma, although an excess of sodium chloride and low levels of organic constituents were noted in the coelomic fluid.
• 3.3. On transfer from seawater to freshwater, a significant reduction in ion concentrations and osmolality of the coelomic fluid was observed in close association with the changes in the plasma values.

     

Examination of water balance and ionic regulation in the earthworm,Eisenia foetida

• 1.1. Weight change after submerging the earthworm into water varied remarkably according to the environmental humidity in which animals were placed before submergence.
• 2.2. Pretreatment with physiological saline solution before submergence in water gave stable values for the ionic concentrations of the body fluid.
• 3.3. Brain removal caused decrease of both sodium and chloride ion concentrations and increase of potassium ion concentration of the coelomic fluid when animals were submerged in water.
• 4.4. Although brain replacement failed, action of a brain hormone is suggested to regulate the decrease of both sodium and choride ions and increase of potassium ion of the coelomic fluid to normal level when animals were submerged in water.

     

The haemocytes and the activities of leucine aminopeptidase and alkaline phosphatase during development of Ceratitis capitata: Specific secretion of a leucine aminopeptidase isozyme

• 1.1. The types of haemocytes during larval development were studied.
• 2.2. The developmental profile of leucine aminopeptidase and alkaline phosphatase was studied. The maximum LAP activity was found to be in early larval development, while the maximum alkaline phosphatase during the white pupal stage.
• 3.3. These activities were compared with those determined in cell-free haemolymph.
• 4.4. Both hydrolytic enzymes have been found histochemically in the prohaemocytes and in the plasmatocytes.
• 5.5. In cultured haemocytes experiments it was found that 64% of the total LAP activity was secreted into the incubation medium, while electrophoretic analysis of released LAP activity demonstrated that only LAP A isozyme was secreted.
• 6.6. Based on the above results we suggest that both hydrolytic enzymes are functionally important throughout larval development.

     

Human seminal phosphatase: Properties and comparison with plant phosphatases

• 1.1. Phosphatase activities were determined in various seminal fluid and plant tissues.
• 2.2. Human semen showed a markedly higher phosphatase activity, and some plants and mushrooms exhibited a considerably higher phosphatase activity.
• 3.3. Phosphatase purified from human seminal fluid showed a pH optimum of 5–6 and was potently inhibited by l-(+)-tartrate.
• 4.4. Tartrate could not inhibit most plant phosphatases, but inhibited the mushroom phosphatase with a one-order lower affinity than that of the seminal enzyme.

     

Reabsorption and accumulation of α-amino-iso-butyric acid in the nephridia of Sabella pavonina Sa vigny (Annelida polychaeta)

• 1.l. High amino acid concentrations were found in the anterior coelomic fluid of a Polychaeta (Sabella pavonina Savigny).
• 2.2. The concentrations being much higher in the fluid which penetrates the nephrostomia into the nephridia lumen than in the final urine indicates that the nephridia reabsorbs large amounts of amino acids.
• 3.3. Nephridial perfusion experiments showed that an amino acid analogue (α-amino-iso-butyric acid, AIB) is transported by the nephidia.
• 4.4. The transport took place across the nephridial wall owing to the presence of a carrier-mediated transport system and a diffusion system.
• 5.5. For the carrier-mediated transport, the V_max was 0.234 ± 0.025 nmol·min⁻ and the K_m 3.715 ± 0.315mmol·l⁻.
• 6.6. AIB accumulated in the nephridial cells up to a maximum rate of 01.17 nmol·min⁻.
• 7.7. Intracellular accumulation stopped increasing when the V_max for reabsorption was reached.
• 8.8. These results indicate that the carrier-mediated transport of AIB is located at the apical membrane of the nephridial cell, and that AIB transport by simple diffusion takes place through the paracellular pathway.

     

Echinochrome-A as a bactericidal substance in the coelomic fluid of Echinus esculentus (L.)

• 1.1. The concentrations of echinochrome-A in coelomic fluid from healthy specimens of the sea urchin Echinus esculentus (L.) ranged from 3 to 60 μg/ml, with a geometric mean of 14 μg/ml.
• 2.2. Echinochrome-A (50 μg/ml) dissolved in sea water, with the aid of mammalian proteins as dispersants, was bactericidal or bacteriostatic towards six out of seven strains of marine gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.
• 3.3. Echinochrome-A is suggested as a major factor in the bactericidal activity of coelomic fluid from E. esculentus.

     

Lipid agglutinins from coelomic fluid of the earthworm,Lumbricus terrestris

• 1.1. Coelomic fluid of the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris, contains lipid agglutinins that are primarily glycolipids. They are present in fluid from both immunized (induced) and unimmunized (naturally occurring) worms.
• 2.2. Lumbricus agglutinins partially purified by Folch extraction followed by silicic acid chromatography, were present in all fractions but in highest concentration in acetone and methanol fractions.
• 3.3. Immunodetection revealed agglutinin activity in acetone and methanol fractions, but not in the chloroform fraction.

     

The effect of salinity on coelomic fluid osmolyte concentration and intracellular water content in Luidia clathrata (Say) (Echinodermata: Asteroidea)

• 1.1. The concentrations (mM) of osmolytes in the coelomic fluid of Luidia clathrata kept at 25‰S seawater (control individuals) were: 345, Na⁺; 10, K⁺; 10, Ca²⁺; 44, Mg²⁺; 387, Cl⁻; 0.67, amino acids; 0.09, NH₄⁺.
• 2.2. When individuals were transferred from 25‰S to 15‰S or 35‰S, the concentrations of inorganic ions in the coelomic fluid usually equilibrated within 24hr and became the same as those in the medium.
• 3.3. The intracellular water content (g intracellular H₂O/g solute-free dry tissue) of the pyloric caeca and tube feet of control individuals throughout the experiment was 2.13 and 5.40, respectively.
• 4.4. In tissues of individuals transferred to 15‰S, the intracellular water content increased by an average 50% in 12 hr but returned to 19% above control levels during 1 week.
• 5.5. In tissues of individuals transferred to 35‰S, the intracellular water content decreased by an average 17% in 12 hr and did not change during 1 week.
• 6.6. Luidia clathrata is an osmoconformer and partial cell volume regulator within the seasonal salinity range it encounters.

     

Correlation of acid phosphatase but not alkaline phosphatase activity with myelination in the developing mouse brain

• 1.1. Neonatal mice received subcutaneous injections of buffer, thiourea (TU) or propylthiouracil (PTU).
• 2.2. The PTU-treated mice were sacrificed on postnatal day 14 (P14) and the TU-treated mice on P28.
• 3.3. Brain weights of the TU- and PTU-treated mice were not significantly different from the controls.
• 4.4. Acid but not alkaline phosphatase activity in the braistem decreased after TU and PTU treatment.
• 5.5. Myelination as indicated by intensity of luxol fast blue staining was weaker in drug-treated animals.
• 6.6. The level of myelin marker enzyme, 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphohydrolase, was lower in the brainstem of PTU-treated animals.
• 7.7. The results suggest a correlation between acid phosphatase but not alkaline phosphatase activity with myelination in the developing mouse brain.

     

Acid and alkaline phosphomonoesterase activities in snake venoms

• 1.1. Acid and alkaline phosphatase activities of eight different snake venoms were determined quantitatively by using synthetic substrates, o-carboxyphenylphosphate and p-nitrophenylphosphate respectively.
• 2.2. It was found that most of Elapidae venoms investigated had both acid and alkaline phosphatase activities.
• 3.3. Three Crotalidae venoms investigated did not show any alkaline phosphatase activity.
• 4.4. The strength of venom acid phosphatase activity is as follows: Agkistroden acutus > Naja haje > Naja naja samarensis > Naja naja atra > Naja melanoleuca.
• 5.5. The strength of venom alkaline phosphatase activity by using p-nitrophenylphosphate is in the order of Naja hannah > Naja haje > Naja naja samarensis > Naja naja atra > Naja melanoleuca.When o-carboxyphenylphosphate was used as a substrate, the order of enzyme activity is Naja hannah > Naja haje > Naja naja samarensis > Naja melanoleuca > Naja naja atra.
• 6.6. Acid phosphatase activity of all the Elapidae venoms was inhibited completely by fluoride. The alkaline phosphatase activity of Elapidae venoms was not inhibited by fluoride either using p-nitrophenylphosphate or o-carboxyphenylphosphate.
• 7.7. The acid phosphatase of all the Elapidae venoms was not inhibited by zinc ion. However, most of the venom alkaline phosphatases were inhibited by zinc ion.
• 8.8. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) had inhibitory action on venom phosphatase activity. However, tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminoethane had a counter effect on the inhibitory action of EDTA.
• 9.9. Optimum pH studies of the snake venom phosphatases showed that the acid phosphatases of the snake venoms had their highest activity in the range of pH 4–5. The alkaline phosphatases of the snake venoms had their optimum pH at 9.
• 10.10. Comparable experiments were also conducted by using chicken intestine alkaline phosphatase and wheat germ acid phosphatase.

     

Carbohydrate transport in polychaeta: Reabsorption and accumulation of maltose by the nephridia of Sabella pavonina S

• 1.1. The glucose and maltose concentrations measured in the thoracic coelomic fluid of Sabella were respectively 0.05 and 0.15mg/ml.
• 2.2. Maltose transport was observed to be carrier-mediated in the nephridial wall, with a V_max of 0.03 nmol/min and a K_m of 0.24 mmol/l.
• 3.3. The accumulation rate of maltose in the nephridia was proportional to its reabsorption rate, and exhibited no plateau.

     

The effect of myo-inositol on the ability of Ditylenchus dipsaci,D. myceliophagus and Anguina tritici to survive desiccation

• 1.1. The effect of myo-inositol on the ability of three species of nematodes to survive desiccation has been studied.
• 2.2. Survival rates obtained from worms treated with an inositol bathing medium were compared with survival rates of worms treated with distilled or tapwater media.
• 3.3. Highest survival rates were found in those nematodes that were placed in an inositol solution prior to desiccation.
• 4.4. Tapwater facilitated higher revival rates than did distilled water in both D. dipsaci and D. myceliophagous.
• 5.5. No such differences were found for A. tritici.
• 6.6. The results are discussed in relation to the possible mechanisms of protection afforded by the different bathing media.

     

Locality-dependent concentrations of bromophenols in Lanice conchilega (Polychaeta: Terebellidae)

• 1.1. At 37 stations in the English Channel and the southern North Sea concentrations of four brominated phenols in Lanice conchilega were determined using ECD equipped capillary gas chromatography: 2,4-dibromophenol, 2,6-dibromo-4-methylphenol, 2,4,6-tribromophenol, 3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde.
• 2.2. Concentrations in worms of the southern North Sea were generally below 1 μg/g wet wt.
• 3.3. Levels were slightly raised in worms of sheltered shores, those of 3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde were increased in subtidal populations.
• 4.4. Concentrations in L. conchilega of Brittany were considerably higher than those in worms of the Frisian Islands, North Sea; they deviated from the latter by factors of 3, 16, 4, 4, respectively.
• 5.5. The reasons for the conspicuous differences are hitherto unknown; three explanations are suggested.

     

Cellular and intracellular localization of catalase and acid phosphatase in the midgut of Lumbricus terrestris L.: A cell fractionation study

• 1.1. Cellular and intracellular localization of catalase and acid phosphomonoesterase in the midgut of Lumbricus terrestris was studied by use of tissue fractionation.
• 2.2. At least 60–70% of the catalase resides in the chloragocyte cytosol and the remaining 30–40% resides in gut epithelium peroxisomes.
• 3.3. One of the main functions of the chloragocyte catalase is probably scavenging for H₂O₂ arising from the interaction between blood heme-protein and oxygen.
• 4.4. A simple method for the histochemical detection of cytosol catalase is proposed.
• 5.5. About 10% of the gut acid phosphatase resides in chloragocyte lysosomes. The chloragosomes contain no acid phosphatase.

     

Essential tyrosyl residues of human placental alkaline phosphatase

• 1.1. Human placental alkaline phosphatase was inactivated with tetranitromethane in a biphasic process.
• 2.2. Spectral and amino acid analysis demonstrated that the inactivation was due to the conversion of tyrosine residues to 3-nitrotyrosine.
• 3.3. The inactivation process showed saturation kinetics.
• 4.4. Protection of the enzyme against tetranitromethane inactivation was afforded by inorganic phosphate.
• 5.5. The binding affinity between the modified enzyme and inorganic phosphate was decreased.
• 6.6. Our results suggest the involvement of tyrosyl residues in the locus of phosphoryl site of the phosphorylated enzyme forms.

     

Distribution of lysosomal hydrolases in glomerular and tubular fractions of rabbit kidney cortex

• 1.1. The results on the distribution of lysosomal hydrolases indicated that the specific activity of acid phosphatase is 5 times higher in glomeruli compared to tubular fraction. The activity of gb-galactosidase was 4 times higher m tubules compared to glomeruli.
• 2.2. Sephadex G-150 gel chromatography of soluble fraction of cortex homogenate, glomeruli and tubules indicated that the enzyme acid phosphatase occurs in multiple forms designated as peaks I, II and III.
• 3.3. The specific activity of peak II was 12–15 times higher in glomeruli compared to the cortex homogenate, and very low in tubules.
• 4.4. Arylsulphatases A and B were also 2–3 times higher in the glomerular fraction compared to the tubules.

     

Organohalogen constituents of the acorn worm Ptychodera bahamensis

• 1.1. Twenty organohalogen compounds, primarily phenols, were detected in the volatile extracts of the acorn worm Ptychodera bahamensis.
• 2.2. Five chlorinated compounds, previously undescribed from acorn worms, were identified.
• 3.3. Enteropneusts can be significant contributors of halogenated organics to the marine environment.

     

Oxygen binding of intact coelomic cells and extracted hemoglobin of the echiuran Urechis caupo

• 1.1. The oxygen affinity of Urechis caupo coelomic cells is the same in normoxic and in hypoxic animals. There is no Bohr effect between pH 6.8 and 8.0.
• 2.2. The oxygen affinity of intact coelomic cells is the same as that of extracted, stripped hemoglobin. The oxygen binding properties of stripped hemoglobin are not affected by 1 mM ATP, IMP, or hydrogen ions between pH 6.8 and 8.0, nor do they clearly show cooperativity. The heat of oxygenation. ΔH, = −13.1 kcal/mol between 10 and 25 C.
• 3.3. Although U. caupo coelomic cell hemoglobin is tetrameric and intracellular, it apparently exhibits neither heterotropic nor homotropic interactions.

     

Serum chemistry profiles for Lechwe waterbucks (Kobus leche): Variations with age and sex

• 1.1. Over an 8-year period, 19 biochemical parameters have been determined at various ages in the blood serum of 92 clinically healthy Lechwe waterbucks (Kobus leche), 33 males and 59 females.
• 2.2. Significant differences have been noted with age. In neonates, the lowest values of total proteins, glucose, creatinine, urea, AST, ALT and iron have been noted; the highest ones have been seen for cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, calcium and phosphorus.
• 3.3. With regard to sex, raised values of glucose, urea, alkaline phosphatase and ALT, and lowered values of cholesterol, have been noted in juvenile females compared with males of the same age.
• 4.4. In adult females, higher levels of urea and cholesterol and lower levels of glucose, triglycerides and natrium have been recorded compared with males.
• 5.5. With sex and age, no significant changes have been found in the levels of GGT, magnesium, chlorides and copper.
• 6.6. Out findings are discussed with those abstracted from the literature for related species.