Summary
-
1.
The properties of myoplasmic water in three species of marine crustaceans (Callianassa californiensis, Cancer antennarius, andPachygrapus crassipes) were studied using a variety of techniques. The fraction of total muscle water which acts as solvent for potassium was determined by comparing the total apparent fiber K+ concentration with a K+ concentration determined from a K+ activity measurement (K+ ion-selective microelectrodes). For each of the sea water acclimated crustaceans about 35% of the total muscle fiber water is non-solvent for free potassium.
-
2.
The kinetics of3H2O uptake by isolated muscle from sea water acclimatedCallianassa indicates that 20% of the myoplasmic water has reduced diffusional mobility. The uptake of14C-dimethylsulfoxide also indicated that about 20% of the muscle fiber water is non-solvent for this solute. Osmometric experiments on single, isolatedCallianassa muscle fibers indicate that 35% of the fiber volume (or about 15% of the fiber water) is osmotically inactive.
-
3.
It is concluded that muscle fiber water of these organisms is heterogeneous, consisting of at least two phases: a normal phase (60% to 80% of the total fiber water) which is limited by the plasma membrane and has electrochemical properties of the extracellular milieu; and an abnormal phase which is speculated to be associated with myofilament protein.
-
4.
The dynamics of these phases were examined by measuring the potassium solvent volumes of fibers fromCallianassa andCancer which had been acclimated to various salinities. Changes in muscle fiber hydration, which accompany salinity adaptation, are not simply due to changes in the size of the solvent volume alone. Osmometric experiments on single fibers from 35% and 150% sea water acclimatedCallianassa also suggest that the osmotically inactive volume can gain or lose water.
-
5.
It is hypothesized that the observed participation of the abnormal phase may result from changes in the equilibrium between myofilament protein and its surface associated water, and these changes may be related to alterations in cell osmolyte levels, particularly nitrogenous solutes which mediate osmotic adaptation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- ASW :
-
artificial sea water
- DMSO :
-
dimethylsulfoxide
- ECS :
-
extracellular space
References
Aubin M, Prud'Homme RE, Pézolet M, Caillé J-P (1980) Calorimetric study of water in muscle tissue. Biochim Biophys Acta 631:90–96
Bunch W, Edwards C (1969) The permeation of non-electrolytes through the single barnacle muscle cell. J Physiol (Lond) 202:683–697
Caillé J-P (1977) L'effect du pH, du Mg2+, et de l'ATP sur la conductivité électrique du protoplasme musculaire du balane. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 55:888–894
Caillé J-P, Hinke JAM (1974) The volume available to diffusion in the muscle fiber. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 52:814–828
Clark ME, Hinke JAM (1981) Studies on water in barnacle muscle fibres. I. The dry weight components of fresh muscle. J Exp Biol 90:33–41
Clark ME, Hinke JAM, Todd ME (1981) Studies on water in barnacle muscle fibres. II. Role of ions and organic solutes in swelling of chemically-skinned fibres. J Exp Biol 90:43–63
Cooke R, Kuntz ID (1974) The properties of water in biological systems. Ann Rev Biophys Bioeng 3:95–126
Drost-Hansen W (1971) Structure and properties of water at biological interfaces. In: Brown HD (ed) Chemistry of the cell interface, part B. Academic Press, New York, pp 55–105
Freel RW (1978a) Patterns of water and solute regulation in the muscle fibers of osmoconforming marine decapod crustaceans. J Exp Biol 72:107–126
Freel RW (1978b) Transmembrane activity gradients of K and Cl in the muscle fibers of osmoconforming marine decapod crustaceans. J Exp Biol 72:127–140
Garlid KD (1979) Aqueous phase structure in cells and organelles. In: Drost-Hansen W, Clegg J (eds) Cell associated water. Academic Press, New York, pp 293–361
Hazelwood CF (1979) A view of the significance and understanding of the physical properties of cell-associated water. In: Drost-Hansen W, Clegg J (eds) Cell associated water. Academic Press, New York, pp 165–259
Hinke JAM (1969) The construction of pNa and pK microelectrodes for the measurement of aNa and aK in muscle fibers. In: Kerkut GA (ed) Experiments in physiology and biochemistry. Academic Press, New York, pp 1–25
Hinke JAM (1970) Solvent water for electrolytes in the muscle fiber of the giant barnacle. J Gen Physiol 56:521–541
Horowitz SB, Paine PL (1979) Reference phase analysis of free and bound intracellular solutes. II. Isothermal and isotopic studies of cytoplasmic sodium, potassium, and water. Biophys J 25:45–62
Lang M, Gainer H (1969) Volume control by the muscles of the blue crab. Volume readjustments in hypotonic salines. J Gen Physiol 53:323–340
Mobley B, Page E (1971) The effect of potassium and chloride ions on the volume and membrane potentials of single barnacle muscle cells. J Physiol (Lond) 215:49–70
Pézolet M, Pigeon-Gosselin M, Sovoie R, Caillé J-P (1978) Laser Raman investigation of intact single muscle fibers on the state of water in muscle tissue. Biochim Biophys Acta 544:394–406
Raaphorst GP, Kruuv J (1979) Effects of salt, sucrose, and dimethylsulfoxide solutions on the water content and water structure of tissues and cultured cells. In: Keith AD (ed) The aqueous cytoplasm. Dekker, New York, pp 91–136
Reuben JP, Girardier L, Grundfest H (1964) Water transfer and cell structure in isolated crayfish muscle fibers. J Gen Physiol 47:1141–1174
Robinson RA, Stokes RH (1965) Electrolyte solutions, 2nd ed. London, Butterworths, pp 494
Schoffeniels E, Gilles R (1970) Osmoregulation in aquatic arthropods. In: Florkin M, Scheer BT (eds) Chemical zoology, vol 5. New York, Academic Press, pp 255–286
Shporer M, Civan MM (1977) The state of water and alkali ions within intracellular fluids. The contribution of NMR spectroscopy. Curr Top Membr Transp 9:1–69
Sorenson AL (1971) Water permeability of isolated muscle fibers of a marine crab. J Gen Physiol 58:287–303
Walker JL (1971) Ion specific liquid ion exchanger microelectrodes. Anal Chem 43:89A-93A
Wiggins PA (1973) Ionic partition between surface and bulk water in a silica gel. A biological model. Biophys J 13:385–398
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Freel, R.W. Heterogeneity and dynamics of muscle fiber water in marine crustaceans. J Comp Physiol B 146, 113–121 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00688724
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00688724