Summary
Nitrite in the external freshwater medium was found to be toxic to Pacifastacus leniusculus Dana (48 h LC50∼0.7 mM NO −2 ). It produced significant changes in haemolymph ionic concentration and acid-base status. Exposure to 1.0 mM NO −2 resulted in a rapid, active accumulation of nitrite in the haemolymph (to 25 mM NO −2 after 24 h) and caused the partial inhibition of Cl− uptake. Some reduction in Cl− efflux rate was seen. In 1.0 mM NO −2 a rapid depletion of haemolymph [Cl−] was observed (∼50 mM decrease in 27 h). Nitrite competitively inhibited active Cl− uptake (Km increased from 0.42 to 1.22 mM; Ki=0.45 mM). To achieve Cl− balance in this medium, depleted crayfish would require a two-fold increase in external [Cl−]. A lesser decrease in haemolymph [Na+] was found while osmotic pressure was relatively unaffected. Haemolymph [HCO −3 ] showed a significant increase and was accompanied, unexpectedly, by an acidosis. Possible sources of the excess HCO −3 , perhaps by inhibition of normal Cl−/HCO −3 branchial exchange or release from CaCO3 stores, are discussed. Haemolymph clearance of NO −2 was slower than uptake as was the restoration of [Cl−] on recovery in nitrite-free medium.
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Abbreviations
- AFWM :
-
artificial freshwater medium
- BOD :
-
biochemical oxygen demand
- J Clout :
-
chloride efflux
- J Clin :
-
chloride influx
- J Clin :
-
chloride influx
- J basenet :
-
net base flux
- J basenet :
-
net base flux
- J Clin(p) :
-
passive chloride influx
- J out :
-
efflux
- LC 50 :
-
median lethal concentration
- NEDE :
-
N-1-Naphthylethylenediamine
- SEM :
-
standard error of mean
- TEP :
-
transepithelial potential difference
- V Clin :
-
active chloride uptake
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Harris, R.R., Coley, S. The effects of nitrite on chloride regulation in the crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus Dana (Crustacea: Decapoda). J Comp Physiol B 161, 199–206 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00262884
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00262884