Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Indications of sodium, chloride, and water exchange across the gills of the striped dogfish Poroderma africanum

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Under laboratory conditions, the gills of the striped dogfish Poroderma africanum (Gmelin) were studied as a possible site of ion and water transfer between internal and external media. Haematocrits showed that a drop in the external osmalarity produced increase in blood volume, measured as a decrease in blood pcv's (packed cell volume). Similarly, when fish were exposed to increased external osmolarity, the converse occurred, with resultant rise in pcv's. The use of phenol red showed that normally-fed fish did not drink the medium, and hence dilution of the blood was most probably due to water influx at the gills. Hypoosmotic fish (due to underfeeding) drank the medium in appreciable quantities, and dilution and concentration of external medium had a more pronounced effect on blood pcv's in these individuals. The pcv's of normally fed fish returned to initial values within 7 days after transfer to new medium is most cases, but hypo-osmotic specimens took longer to adjust to the new state of water balance. Surgical closure of rectal gland and urinary systems produced initial rises in serum sodium and chloride levels, but these reached equilibrium after 5 to 7 days, indicating compensatory regulation by some other organ, such as the gills. After removal of the sutures to the urinary systems of 3 fish, there was a noticeable drop in sodium and chloride levels of the serum in these individuals. All fish were kept for 14 days in the laboratory, with little change in blood composition (as measured) and with only the gills as regulatory organs in two of them. By using the radioisotopes Chloride-36 and Sodium-22, it was shown that both ions are lost at the gills, against the concentration gradient. Histochemical examination of gill tissue from several fish indicated that many cells contain high concentrations of chloride and are probably the site of chloride excretion. The number of such cells increased with increase in external salinity, and they were also abundant in tissue from hypo-osmotic specimens and those with inoperative urinary and rectal gland systems. From these findings it was concluded that the gills have a definite role in the ion and water balance of P. africanum.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Bevelander, G.: Branchial glands in fishes. J. Morph. 59, 215–224 (1936)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Secretory cells in the branchial epithelium of fishes. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 91, 230–231 (1946)

    Google Scholar 

  • Burger, J.W. and W.N. Hess: Functions of the rectal gland in the spiny dogfish. Science, N.Y. 131, 670–671 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • — and D.C. Tosteson: Sodium influx and efflux in the spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 19, 649–653 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Copeland, D.E.: The cytological basis of chloride transfer in the gills of Fundulus heteroclitus. J. Morph. 82, 201–227 (1948)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Adaptive behaviour of the chloride cell in the gill of Fundulus heteroclitus. J. Morph. 87, 369–376 (1950)

    Google Scholar 

  • Datta Munshi, J.S.: Chloride cells in the gills of fresh-water teleosts. Q. Jl microsc. Sci. 105, 79–89 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Doyle, W. L. and O. Gorecki: The so-called chloride cells of the fish gill. Physiol. Zoöl. 34, 81–85 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, D. H. Studies on the permeability to water of selected marine, freshwater and euryhaline teleosts. J. exp. Biol. 50, 689–703 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • — C. H. Mallery and L. Kravitz,: Sodium extrusion by a fish acclimated to sea water: physiological and biochemical description of a Na-for-K exchange system. J. exp. Biol. 58, 627–636 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fearnhead, E. A. and B. C. Fabian: The ultrastructure of the gill of Monodactylus argenteus (a euryhaline teleost fish) with particular reference to morphological changes associated with changes in salinity. S. Afr. Ass. mar. biol. Res. Rep. no. 26. Durban: Durban Oceanic Research Institute 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein L. and R. P. Forster: Osmoregulation and urea metabolism in the little skate, Raja erinacea. Am. J. Physiol. 220, 742–746 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • —, W. W. Oppelt and T. H. Maren: Osmotic regulation and urea metabolism in the lemon shark Negaprion brevirostris. Am. J. Physiol. 215, 1493–1497 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Haywood, G. P.: Hypo-osmotic regulation coupled with reduced metabolic urea in the dogfish Poroderma africanum: an analysis of serum osmolarity, chloride, and urea. Mar. Biol. 23, 121–127 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • — The exchangeable ionic space, and salinity effects upon ion, water, and urea turnover rates in the dogfish Poroderma africanum Mar. Biol. 26, 69–75 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamiya, M.: Sodium-potassium-activated adenosine-triphosphatase in isolated chloride cells from eel gills. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 43B, 611–617 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kempton, R.T.: Studies of the elasmobranch kidney — II. Reabsorption of urea by the smooth dogfish, Mustelus canis. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 104, 45–56 (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerstetter, T.H. and L.B. Kirschner: Active chloride transport by the gills of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). J. exp. Biol. 56 263–272 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Keys, A.B. and E.N. Willmer: “Chloride secreting cells” in the gills of fishes, with special reference to the common eel. J. Physiol., Lond. 76, 368–378 (1932)

    Google Scholar 

  • Krogh, A.: Osmotic regulation in fresh water fishes by active absorption of chloride ions. Z. vergl. Physiol. 24, 656–666 (1937)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, C.K.: Osmotic regulation and “chloride secreting cells” in the paradise fish, Macropodus opercularis. Sinensia Shanghai 13, 15–20 (1942)

    Google Scholar 

  • Maetz, J.: Sea-water teleosts: evidence for a sodium-potassium exchange in the branchial sodium-excreting pump. Science, N.Y. 166, 613–615 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Fish gills: mechanisms of salt transfer in fresh water and sea water. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. (Ser. B) 262, 209–251 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • — Branchial sodium exchange and ammonia excretion in the goldfish Crassius auratus. Effects of ammonia-loading and temperature changes. J. exp. Biol. 56, 601–620 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • — and F. Garcia Romeu: The mechanisms of sodium and chloride uptake by the gills of a fresh water fish, Carssius auratus. II Evidence for NH 4+ /Na+ and HCO 3− /Cl− exchange. J. gen. Physiol. 47, 1209–1227 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • — et B. Lahlou: Les échanges de sodium et de chlore chez un élasmobranche, Scyliorhinus, mesurés à l'aide des isotopes 24Na et 36Cl. J. Physiol., Paris 58, p. 249 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Motais, R., J. Isaia, J. C. Rankin and J. Maetz: Adaptive changes of the water permeability of the teleostean gill epithelium in relation to external salinity. J. exp. Biol. 51, 529–546 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Parry, G., F.G.T. Holliday and J.H.S. Blaxter: ‘Chloride-secretory’ cells in the gills of teleosts. Nature, Lond. 183, 1248–1249 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Payan, P. et J. Maetz: Balance hydrique et minérale chez les élasmobranches: arguments en faveur d'un contrôle endocrinien. Bull. Inf. Sci. Technol. C.E.A. 146, 77–96 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • ——: Balance hydrique chez les élasmobranches: arguments en faveur d'un contrôle endocrinien. Gen. comp. Endocr. 16, 535–554 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • ——: Branchial sodium transport mechanisms in Scyliorhinus canicula: evidence for Na+/NH 4+ and Na+/H+ exchanges and for a role of carbonic anhydrase. J. exp. Biol. 58, 487–502 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • de Renzis, G. and J. Maetz: Studies on the mechanism of chloride absorption by the goldfish gill: relation with acid-base regulation. J. exp. Biol. 59, 339–358 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schales, O. and S.S. Schales: A simple and accurate method for the determination of chloride in biological fluids. J. biol. Chem. 140, 879–884 (1941)

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, H.W.: The absorption and excretion of water and salts by marine teleosts. Am. J. Physiol. 93, 480–505 (1930)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The absorption and excretion of water and salts by the elasmobranch fishes. II marine elasmo-branchs. Am. J. Physiol. 98, 296–310 (1931)

    Google Scholar 

  • de Vlaming, V.L. and M. Sage: Osmoregulation in the euryhaline elasmobranch Dasyatis sabina. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 45A, 31–44 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Capetown, Republic of South Africa

    G. P. Haywood

  2. Station Zoologique Département de Biologie, C.E.A., 06, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

    G. P. Haywood

Authors
  1. G. P. Haywood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by J.H.S. Blaxter, Oban

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Haywood, G.P. Indications of sodium, chloride, and water exchange across the gills of the striped dogfish Poroderma africanum . Marine Biology 29, 267–276 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00391853

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00391853

Keywords

Search

Navigation