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Diurnal variation in renal and extra-renal excretion of ammonia-N and urea-N in a freshwater air-breathing teleost,Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

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Proceedings: Animal Sciences

Abstract

Diurnal pattern of excretion of ammonia-N and urea-N through the renal and extra-renal sources were studied in a freshwater air-breathing teleost,Heteropneustes fossilis in its aquatic medium. Ammonia-N was the major nitrogen excretory product, however, the rate of excretion of urea-N was comparatively higher than other freshwater teleosts. Almost all ammonia-N (>99%) and about 75% of urea-N were excreted through the extra-renal sources. The excretion rate of urea-N was about 10 times higher than ammonia-N through the renal and ammonia-N was 7–8 times higher than urea-N through extra-renal sources. Existence of a functional ornithine-urea cycle reported inHeteropneustes fossilis has been suggested to be the reason for this increased rate of urea excretion.

Nitrogen excretion (total ammonia-N + urea-N) during the night was significantly higher than the day. A higher rate of nitrogen metabolism at night has been suggested forHeteropneustes fossilis which has been reported to be nocturnal in habit.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biochemical Adaptation Laboratory, Department of Zoology, North-Eastern Hill University, 793 014, Shillong, India

    N Saha, J Chakravorty & B K Ratha

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  1. N Saha
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  2. J Chakravorty
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  3. B K Ratha
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Saha, N., Chakravorty, J. & Ratha, B.K. Diurnal variation in renal and extra-renal excretion of ammonia-N and urea-N in a freshwater air-breathing teleost,Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch). Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Anim. Sci.) 97, 529–537 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03179554

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03179554

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