ISSN:
0362-2525
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Function and ultrastructure of the excretory organs (antennal glands) of the shore crab Uca mordax were investigated. The crabs were maintained at three different salinities: 50%, 100% and 200% seawater. In spite of previous reports to the contrary, the investigation showed that the powerful osmoregulatory ability found in Uca mordax is not due to participation of the antennal glands. Freezing point depression of urine under all conditions was found to be slightly less than that of the hemolymph, indicating a slightly hypoosmotic urine. It was further found that the antennal gland is extremely effective in resorbing sodium from the filtrate. The higher the salinity to which the crabs were acclimated the lower the sodium concentration in the urine. No water was resorbed from the filtrate as shown by the fact that the inulin U/P ratio remained unity regardless of the salinity to which the crabs were adapted. Electronmicroscopy of the antennal glands revealed that the coelomosac cells are similar to the podocytes described in the crayfish by Kümmel ('64), and the coelomosac appears to be a typical filtration organ. The cells of the labyrinth showed brush border and very elaborate basal infoldings with numerous mitochondria. The deep cytoplasmic infoldings which represent interdigitations with neighboring cells may be correlated with the effective sodium reabsorption in the labyrinth, but apparently not with water movement.
Additional Material:
2 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1051250406
