Summary
A technique is described for simultaneously measuring perfusion pressure and transepithelial potentials in isolated perfused gills.
In this preparation the potentials measured in external media of Ringer or sea water were both reduced by 4 mV to 5 mV in the presence of 10−6 M adrenaline. This effect was reversed by 10−5 M phentolamine in both situations; 10−5 M propanolol was without effect (Figs. 2, 3). Both potentials were reduced by oxygen lack (Figs. 1, 6).
The preparations showed inconsistent vasomotor responses to adrenaline but 10−5 M acetylcholine consistently produced an increase in branchial vascular resistance (Figs. 7, 8).
It is suggested that adrenaline directly inhibits the branchial ion extrusion pump via a mechanism involving α-adrenergic receptors. It is further suggested that the biogenic potential produced by the activity of the branchial ion pump makes a significant contribution to the total potential in sea water. The significance of these findings in relation to other work is discussed.
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Shuttleworth, T.J. The effect of adrenaline on potentials in the isolated gills of the flounder (Platichthys flesus L.). J Comp Physiol B 124, 129–136 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00689173
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00689173