Osmotic and ionic regulation of the prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) adapted to varying salinities and ion concentrations

S. Stern*, A. Borut, D. Cohen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

1. 1. Osmotic and ionic regulation of certain key ions (Na+, Cl-, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) were determined in Macrobrachium rosenbergii maintained for long periods in freshwater, 15‰ and 24‰ diluted sea-water and in waters of varying ion compositions (three different continental brackish water sources). 2. 2. Blood osmotic concentrations were regulated hyperosmotically in a range of 450-500 mOsm/1 with the exception at 24‰ sea-water where the blood osmotic concentration rose to 636 mOsm/l. 3. 3. Na+ and Cl- blood concentrations were maintained hyperionic in all media except for 24‰ sea-water in which both ions were hypoionic. 4. 4. Blood K+ and Ca2+ concentrations were hyperionic in all treatments while Mg2+ was maintained as a rule hypoionic. 5. 5. In freshwater, M. rosenbergii produced urine with a urine/blood ratio of 0.02 and 0.024 for Na+ and Cl- respectively suggesting hypo-osmotic urine. 6. 6. In 15‰ sea-water the U B ratio is approximately 1-suggesting iso-osmotic urine. 7. 7. It is concluded that Macrobrachium rosenbergii has the ability to regulate and maintain its hemolymph osmolality and ionic composition (Na+, Cl-, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+) in media varying from freshwater to concentrations approaching iso-osmoticity. 8. 8. Changes in relative concentrations of various ions in media-typical of saline waters having a nonmarine origin-seem to have no significant influence on the hemolymph composition in prawns that managed to survive and grow in them.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)373-379
Number of pages7
JournalComparative Biochemistry and Physiology -Part A : Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Volume86
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1987

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