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Water and salt excretion in the leech (Hirudo medicinalis L.)

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Summary

  1. 1.

    The time courses of the osmotic and ionic concentrations in three different compartments (crop, blood and final urine) of the leech were measured after filling the crop with hypo- or hyperosmotic salt solution. Flow rates of the final urine were followed under the same conditions.

  2. 2.

    Volume regulation is accomplished within several hours but salt excretion takes longer.

  3. 3.

    No correlation was observed between the osmotic and ionic concentrations of blood and final urine.

  4. 4.

    The results indicate that the mechanisms controlling urine volume are independent of those controlling urine concentration.

  5. 5.

    A possible mechanism of fluid absorption from the crop is discussed.

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References

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Author notes

  1. Angela Wenning

    Present address: Fakultät für Biologie der Universität, Post-fach 5560, D-7750, Konstanz, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Tierphysiologie und Angewandte Zoologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Grunewaldstrasse 34, D-1000, Berlin 41

    Angela Wenning, Irene Zerbst-Boroffka & Brita Bazin

Authors
  1. Angela Wenning
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  2. Irene Zerbst-Boroffka
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  3. Brita Bazin
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Wenning, A., Zerbst-Boroffka, I. & Bazin, B. Water and salt excretion in the leech (Hirudo medicinalis L.). J Comp Physiol B 139, 97–102 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691022

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691022

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