Biochemical aspects of Balanus hameri haemolymph,together with some comparative haemolymph data for Balanus balanus and Lepas anatifera

• 1.1. The concentration of protein in the haemolymph of Balanus hameri ranged from 2.0 to 17.3 mg/ml, and the lipid from 1.4 to 7.7 mg/ml; the haemolymph protein and lipid levels increased significantly prior to cross-fertilization.
• 2.2. The protein and lipid concentrations in Balanus balanus haemolymph were 8.1 and 1.7 mg/ml respectively.
• 3.3. The lipid concentration of Lepas anatifera haemolymph was 1.2 mg/ml.
• 4.4. The neutral lipid and phospholipid components of B. hameri and L. anatifera haemolymph were the same, with the major components of the phospholipid fraction being phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidyl choline.
• 5.5. The osmolarity (970.4 mOsm), chloride ion concentration (501.3 m-eq/l) and pH (7.29) of B. hameri haemolymph were also determined.

     

A brief re-examination of the function and regulation of extracellular magnesium and its relationship to activity in crustacean arthropods

• 1.1. The magnesium ion [Mg²⁺] plays an important role as a co-factor in enzyme systems and as a modulator of the haemocyanin of crustacean arthropods.
• 2.2. Mg²⁺ is actively regulated in most decapod crustaceans via the antennal gland. The degree of regulation can be correlated to some extent with the “activity” of a particular species although there are “exceptions to the rule”.
• 3.3. Intraspecific studies indicate that there is a clear relationship between haemolymph [Mg²⁺] and the level of activity in particular crustacean species.
• 4.4. A plea is made for the investigation of temporal changes in the [Mg²⁺] of the haemolymph of a number of crustaceans and for more studies of Mg²⁺ homoeostasis in general.

     

Effects of starvation and a carbohydrate-rich diet on glycogen metabolism in a gastropod mollusc,Megalobulimus oblongus

• 1.1. Administration of a carbohydrate-rich diet increased haemolymph glucose levels and glycogen concentration in hepatopancreas, mantle and muscle.
• 2.2. Glycogen concentration in tissues decreases after 2 weeks of starvation and haemolymph glucose levels did not change significantly.
• 3.3. However, starvation did not induce a decrease in the intrinsic synthetic capacity in tissues.
• 4.4. Glycogen synthesis in tissues from animals fed with lettuce or a carbohydrate-rich diet, increases with increasing glucose concentration in the media.
• 5.5. However, in mantle slices from snails adapted on a carbohydrate-rich diet, the glycogen synthetic capacity was lower than in slices from snails fed with lettuce.

     

Urine composition and kidney function in the pulmonate freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis

• 1.1. Final urine is intermittently released from the pneumostome of the pulmonate freshwater snail Lymnaea slagnalis. A technique is described to sample this fluid.
• 2.2. The ionic composition of final urine greatly differs from that of haemolymph; Na⁺ and Cl⁻ are reabsorbed to a considerable degree. In lettuce fed snails K⁺ is excreted.
• 3.3. The urine Na⁺ and Cl⁻ concentrations are about 38 and 31 mM lower, respectively, than the haemolymph concentrations, also when the latter concentrations vary.

     

The association of changes in cerebral ganglion dopamine metabolism with ootheca development in Periplaneta americana

• 1.1. Dopamine levels and DOPA-decarboxylase activity were measured in cerebral ganglia and haemolymph of female Periplaneta americana.
• 2.2. Measurements were made at four points in the oothecal cycle of cockroaches known to drop oothecae at regular three day intervals.
• 3.3. Dopamine levels and DOPA-decarboxylase activity in haemocytes and plasma cycle in phase with ootheca formation; their levels in haemolymph are maximal when a half visible, untanned ootheca is present.
• 4.4. In the cerebral ganglia dopamine levels and DOPA-decarboxylase also cycle in phase with ootheca formation suggesting that cerebral ganglion dopamine metabolism is under the same controls as dopamine metabolism associated with oothecal tanning.

     

Ionic regulation and salinity related changes in haemolymph protein in the semi-terrestrial beachflea Orchestia gammarellus (Pallas) (Crustacea: Amphipoda)

• 1.1. Orchestia gammarellus maintained in air and provided with food in the form of agar was found to be very tolerant of changes in the ionic content of the food and was shown to have well-developed powers of ionic regulation over the salinity range 5–40‰ at 10°C.
• 2.2. There was an inverse relationship between haemolymph protein and acclimation salinity.
• 3.3. The concentration of sodium and protein ions in the haemolymph of O. gammarellus from above high water mark (H.W.M.) was markedly different from animals collected below H.W.M. Individuals taken from above H.W.M. characteristically had low haemolymph sodium but elevated haemolymph protein concentrations.

     

Physiological pattern and further characterization of the haemolymph violet carotenoprotein of the fly Rhynchosciara americana

• 1.1. An electrophoretic purification procedure for the haemolymph violet carotenoprotein of R. americana was described. The purified protein was used for obtaining a specific antiserum.
• 2.2. This carotenoprotein contains: (1) a high weight percentage of glutamic acid, threonine and proline and a low weight percentage of histidine; (2) mannose and/or glucose as suggested by the interaction with concanavalin A; (3) phosphoryl groups.
• 3.3. The concentration of the violet carotenoprotein in the haemolymph is approximately constant during all the life cycle of R. americana.
• 4.4. The haemolymph of four species of Rhynchosciara genus shows the presence of proteins immunologically related with the R. americana violet carotenoprotein.

     

Development of imaginal competence to adipokinetic hormone in Locusta: Lipid and carbohydrate levels,and glycogen phosphorylase activity in azadirachtin-induced over-aged nymphs

• 1.1. Adipokinetic responses to injection of synthetic adipokinetic hormone I (sAKH) and relevant physiological parameters were studied in azadirachtin-induced 31 to 34-day-old Vth-instar over-aged male nymphs of Locusta migratoria which did not undergo the metamorphic moult to adult.
• 2.2. The resting lipid and carbohydrate levels in the haemolymph and sAKH-induced activation of fat body glycogen phosporylase did not differ markedly between over-aged nymphs, normal nymphs and normal adults.
• 3.3. Total fat body glycogen phosphorylase activity and the effect of sAKH on haemolymph carbohydrate level in over-aged nymphs were similar to those in normal adults and differed from those in normal nymphs.
• 4.4. sAKH-induced elevation of haemolymph lipid level in the over-aged nymphs was higher than in normal nymphs but lower than in normal adults; thus, the over-agad nymphs attained only a partial adult competence in this respect.

     

Dose-dependent incorporation of orally infused [1-14C]oleic acid into the lipid classes of midgut,haemolymph and fat body of dragonfly larvae (Aeshna cyanea)

• 1.1. Five different doses of radioactive oleic acid (ranging from 1.87 nmoles to 5.61 μmoles) were administered to Aeshna cyanea larvae.
• 2.2. Its incorporation into the midgut epithelium, haemolymph and fat body increased with the dose and time.
• 3.3. Low doses caused up to 95% phospholipid labelling in the midgut wall, while labelled triacylglycerol was less than 1%, but increased with the doses to a maximum of 68%. The data favour the glycerophosphate pathway of oleic acid esterification.
• 4.4. At low doses oleic acid was mainly released into the haemolymph from the midgut phospholipid pool, and at high doses from the triacylglycerol pool.
• 5.5. Diacylglycerol was the most heavily labelled lipid class of the haemolymph, amounting up to 98% and slightly decreasing with time.
• 6.6. The fat body showed a dose- and time-dependent increase in labelled phospholipid and triacyl-glycerol, maximally amounting to 14 and 90%, respectively.

     

Effect of JH and PII on the protein content of haemolymph and ovaries of Spilostethus pandurus

• 1.1. An SDS-PAGE study of the qualitative and quantitative differences in protein bands from haemolymph and ovaries of Spilostethus pandurus females treated with JH or chemically allatectomized with precocene II, has been done.
• 2.2. The SDS-PAGE study of haemolymph revealed the occurrence of three female-specific proteins. In the ovary appeared three protein fractions (A, Band C) with mol. wts similar to those from haemolymph.
• 3.3. The three female-specific proteins from the haemolymph, and the ovary bands B,C and D were absent in the samples from PII-treated females.
• 4.4. JH accelerates ovary growth and the relative amounts of bands B, C and D were in relation to the physiological stage of the considered ovaries.

     

The effect of osmotic and ion-osmotic stresses on the blood and urine composition and urine flow of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

• 1.1. Changes in urine and plasma concentrations (sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and total osmotic) and urine production were determined in fish exposed to various concentrations of an ionically active substance, sodium chloride, and a non-electrolyte, mannitol, as well as freshwater.
• 2.2. Responses occurred for the most part over a short crisis period preceeding establishment of new stable conditions.
• 3.3. It was shown that plasma homeostasis was not maintained in response to changing ion-osmotic and osmotic gradients.
• 4.4. Urinary osmotic and ionic concentrations were unaffected and urine production was shown to be inversely related to the external concentration.
• 5.5. It is suggested that ionic shifts between body compartments are an important aspect of ion-osmotic adaptation.

     

An anticoagulant solution for haemolymph collection and prophenoloxidase studies of penaeid shrimp (Penaeus californiensis)

• 1.1. An anticoagulant solution was designed from data on osmolality, ionic concentration and pH to resemble shrimp haemolymph.
• 2.2. This Shrimp Salt Solution (SSS) prevents coagulation and prophenoloxidase system activation during the extraction of shrimp haemolymph.
• 3.3. The location of the the proPO system in the brown shrimp (Penaeus californiensis) was determined using this anticoagulant solution.

     

Effects of anoxia on the haemolymph physiology and lactate concentrations in the freshwater crab Potamon warreni calman

• 1.1. Haemolymph lactate levels rose rapidly from 0.54 ( ± 0.39) mmol to 34.78 ( ± 4.9) mmol during 6 hr of anoxia in a N₂ atmosphere.
• 2.2. A sharp decrease in the pH from 7.478 (± 0.04) to 7.197 ( ± 0.04) and the total carbon dioxide content of the haemolymph from 13.97 (± 2.0) mmol to 6.25 (± 1.2) mmol during anoxia indicates a gross disturbance in the acid-base balance in Potamon warreni.
• 3.3. The low concentrations of succinate (98 ± 30 μmol) and alanine (5.8 ± 1.0 mmol) in the haemolymph suggest that they do not play a role as an energy source during anoxia.
• 4.4. Probably only l-( + )-lactate is produced during lactate production when P. warreni is exposed to anoxic conditions.

     

A comparison of serum retinol concentration between human and different species of normo and hypercholesterolemic nonhuman primates fed semi-purified diets with defined amounts of vitamin A

• 1.1. Serum retinol and total cholesterol concentrations were determined in several species of nonhuman primates fed semipurified diets. Two species of Old World and three species of New World nonhuman primates were examined.
• 2.2. Retinol levels were significantly lower (up to four-fold) in the serum of the smaller New World than the larger Old World animals and the difference could not be explained by differences in dietary make-up.
• 3.3. Cholesterol levels were not different between the groups but differed within a species when type of dietary fat was altered.
• 4.4. Differences in circulating levels of retinol may reflect differences in levels of retinol binding protein between the groups.

     

Water loss and haemolymph osmolarity of Potamon potamios,an aquatic land crab,under stress of dehydration and salinity

• 1.1. Small crabs survived over 18% water loss and large crabs 21% when in dry air. Size, temperature and relative humidity affected this rate.
• 2.2. Haemolymph osmolarity of newly collected crabs ranged from 530 to 630 mOsm/kg, depending on their size and the season.
• 3.3. When dehydrated, haemolymph osmolarity rose to over 700 mOsm/kg, and ion concentration increased by over 10%.
• 4.4. Crabs survived in sea-water for at least two weeks. Haemolymph osmolarity rose and ion concentration increased. The acclimation pattern affected the haemolymph osmolarity.

     

Anuran amphibia which are not acclimable to high salt,tolerate high plasma urea

• 1.1. The capacity of five anuran Amphibians (Bufo viridis B. regularis, Rana ridibunda, Hyla arborea and Pelobates syriacus) to acclimate to NaCl and urea solutions was investigated.
• 2.2. All species could be acclimated to relatively high concentrations of urea solutions, while only Bufo viridis and Hyla arborea could be acclimated to 500 mOsm/kg or higher NaCl solutions.
• 3.3. The plasma urea concentration in B. viridis and H. arborea was elevated to levels over 140 mmol/1.
• 4.4. The sum of plasma sodium and chloride concentrations did not increase over 400 mmol/l in any species.
• 5.5. Urine osmolality, which was normally low, increased, but never exceeded the plasma osmolality.
• 6.6. In the urea acclimation conditions, urine electrolytes diminished, similarly in all species in this study.
• 7.7. It is concluded that anuran Amphibians can tolerate high plasma urea concentrations, but only those species which can elevate it, either through retention or net synthesis, can be acclimated to high salt solutions.

     

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.

     

The effect of eyestalk ablation on growth,haemolymph composition and gill Na+, K+-ATPase activity of Penaeus monodon juveniles

• 1.1. Eyestalk unablated and unilaterally ablated Penaeus monodon juveniles had survival rates after 5 months of 75–72.5 and 67.5–60%, respectively.
• 2.2. Unilaterally ablated shrimps had significantly higher (P < 0.05) growth rate than unablated shrimps.
• 3.3. Eyestalk-ablatement resulted in a decrease in the haemolymph sodium concentration and an increase in the potassium and calcium concentration of shrimps.
• 4.4. The osmolarity of haemolymph and total protein concentration of unablated shrimps were demonstrated to be higher than those of unilaterally ablated shrimps.
• 5.5. The eyestalk-ablated shrimps possess higher total ATPase and Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activities in the gill than those of unablated shrimps.

     

Blue-Green color and composition of stejneger's beaked whale (Mesoplodon stejnegeri) milk

• 1.1. Two hundred ml of milk were obtained from a lactating Stejneger's beaked whale stranded at Ninilchik, Alaska on 21 Oct, 1980.
• 2.2. Total solids (41%) were similar to values reported for sperm and belukha whales, while fat (17%) was half as great and crude protein (17%) was 2–4 times greater than in milk of these species. Lactose was not detected.
• 3.3. Calcium (0.22%) was greater than reported for pigmy sperm whales but less than for blue whales. Phosphorus (0.07%) was less than for any of the above species. Sodium and potassium concentrations were 0.13% and 0.11%, respectively.
• 4.4. Values (μg/g) for other elements analyzed (magnesium, 42; iron, 35; copper, 2.6; zinc, 1.5; manganese, 0.3; selenium, 0.36) have not been reported for whale milk.
• 5.5. Based on SDS-gel electropherograms, this whale milk did not contain a whey protein corresponding to cattle milk α-lactalbumin.
• 6.6. A blue-green pigment in the milk was identified as biliverdin.

     

Live mass,water content,nitrogen and mineral levels in some insects from south-central lower michigan

• 1.1. Live and dry mass, water content, nitrogen, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and total iron concentrations are reported (or are available from the authors or the Faculty/Staff Collection of The University of Michigan-Flint Library) for members of 16 orders (360 species) of mostly adult, flying insects from south-central lower Michigan.
• 2.2. Compared to published nutritional requirements (when meeting caloric requirements) for growth and reproduction in birds and mammals, insects are excellent sources of nitrogen, potassium and magnesium, highly variable sources of sodium and iron, and, very rarely, adequate calcium sources.
• 3.3. Elemental composition of some insects differs by size, sex, season and after culling.