Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Renal function in Antarctic teleost fishes: Serum and urine composition

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The urine and serum compositions in 11 species of Antarctic teleost fishes were studied. The body fluids of these fishes were hypoosmotic to seawater. Both urine and serum osmoconcentrations were conspicuously greater than those of temperate species. The elevated serum osmolality was due to increased levels of NaCl, while elevated urine osmolality was due chiefly to increased concentrations of magnesium and chloride. The kidney was unable to form a urine hyperosmotic to serum under field conditions. The renal tubular epithelium secreted magnesium and calcium against a concentration gradient, while effectively preventing the renal excretion of significant amounts of sodium and potassium. Bladder urine of Antarctic teleosts may often be supercooled by as much as 0.8°C. Coelomic fluid and the integument probably act as a barrier in preventing ice propagation in the supercooled bladder urine, since they both contain glycoprotein “antifreeze” agents.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Berglund, F. and R.P. Forster: Renal tubule transport of inorganic divalent ions by the aglomerular marine teleost, Lophius americanus. J. gen. Physiol. 41, 429–440 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Blaxter, J.H.S., C.S. Wardle and B.L. Roberts: Aspects of the circulatory physiology and muscle systems of deep-sea fish. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 51, 991–1006 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brull, L. and E. Nizet: Blood and urine constituents of Lophius piscatorius L. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 32, 321–328 (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  • —— and E.B. Verney: Blood perfusion of the kidney of Lophius piscatorius L. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 32, 329–336 (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  • Castellan, G.W.: Physical chemistry, 866 pp. Menlo Park: Addison-Wesley 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • Conte, F.P.: Salt secretion. In: Fish physiology, Vol. 1. pp 241–292. Ed. by W.S. Hoar and D.J. Randall. New York: Academic Press 1969

    Google Scholar 

  • Dell, R.K.: Antarctic benthos. Adv. mar. Biol. 10, 1–216 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • DeVries, A.L.: Freezing resistance in fishes. In: Fish physiology, Vol. 6. pp 157–190. Ed. by W.S. Hoar and D.J. Randall. New York: Academic Press 1971a

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Glycoproteins as biological antifreeze agents in Antarctic fishes. Science, N.Y. 172, 1152–1155 (1971b)

    Google Scholar 

  • —, S.K. Komatsu and R.E. Feeney: Chemical and physical properties of freezing point-depressing glycoproteins from Antarctic fishes. J. biol. Chem. 245, 2901–2908 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dobbs, G.H., A.L. DeVries and Y. Lin: Effect of warm acclimation on renal function in the Antarctic teleost, Dissostichus mawsoni. (1974a). (Unpublished)

  • —, Y. Lin and A.L. DeVries: Aglomerularism in Antarctic fish. Science, N.Y. 185, 793–794 (1974b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Duman, J.G. and A.L. DeVries: Freezing behavior of aqueous solutions of glycoproteins from the blood of Antarctic fish. Cryobiol. 9, 469–472 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • ——: Freezing resistance in winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus. Nature, Lond. 247, 237–238 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eliassen, E., H. Leivestad and D. Moller: The effect of low temperatures on the freezing point of plasma and on the potassium/sodium ratio in the muscles of some boreal and subarctic fishes. Årbok Univ. Bergen (Mat.-naturvitens. ser.) 14, 1–24 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Forster, R.P.: A comparative study of renal function in marine teleosts. J. cell. comp. Physiol. 42, 487–509 (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  • — and F. Berglund: Osmotic diuresis and its effect on total electrolyte distribution in plasma and urine of the aglomerular teleost, Lophius americanus. J. gen. Physiol. 39, 349–359 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, M.S.: Water and solute metabolism. In: Animal function: principles and adaptations, pp 230–289. Ed. by M.S. Gordonm New York: MacMillan Co. 1968

    Google Scholar 

  • —, B.H. Amdur and P.F. Scholander: Freezing resistance in some northern fishes. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 122, 52–62 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Grafflin, A.L. and D. Ennis: The effect of blockage of the gastro-intestinal tract upon urine formation in a marine teleost, Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus. J. cell. comp. Physiol. 4, 283–296 (1934)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hickman, C.P., Jr.: Urine composition and kidney tubular function in southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma, in seawater. Can. J. Zool. 46, 439–455 (1968a)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Ingestion, intestinal absorption, and elimination of seawater and salts in the southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma. Can. J. Zool. 46, 457–466 (1968b)

    Google Scholar 

  • — and B.F. Trump: The kidney. In: Fish physiology, Vol. 1. pp 91–239. Ed. by W.S. Hoar and D.J. Randall. New York: Academic Press 1969

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmes, W.N. and E.M. Donaldson: The body compartments and the distribution of electrolytes. In: Fish physiology, Vol. 1. pp 1–89. Ed. by W.S. Hoar and D.J. Randall. New York: Academic Press 1969

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, Y., G.H. Dobbs and A.L. DeVries: Oxygen consumption and lipid content in red and white muscles of antarctic fishes. J. exp. Zool. 189, 379–386 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • —, J.G. Duman and A.L. DeVries: Studies on the structure and activity of low molecular weight glycoproteins from an Antarctic fish. Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun. 46, 87–92 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Littlepage, J.L.: Oceanographic investigations in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. In: Biology of the antarctic seas, Vol. 2. pp 1–37. Ed. by M.O. Lee. Washington D.C.: American Geophysical Union 1965

    Google Scholar 

  • Natochin, Y.V., G.P. Gusev, O.A. Goncharevskaya, E.A. Lavrova and E.I. Shakhmatova: Effect of diuretics on the secretion and reabsorption of ions in the kidney of marine teleosts. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 43A, 253–258 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Parry, G.: Osmotic adaptation in fishes. Biol. Rev. 41, 392–444 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitts, R.F.: Urinary composition in marine fish. J. cell. comp. Physiol. 4, 389–395 (1934)

    Google Scholar 

  • Potts, D.C. and R.W. Morris: Some body fluid characteristics of the Antarctic fish, Trematomus bernacchii. Mar. Biol. 1, 269–276 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Prosser, C.L.: Water: osmotic balance; hormonal regulation. In: Comparative animal physiology, pp 1–78. Ed. by C.L. Prosser. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co. 1973

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramsay, J.A. and R.H.J. Brown: Simplified apparatus and procedure for freezing-point determinations upon small volumes of fluid. J. scient. Instrum. 32, 372–375 (1955)

    Google Scholar 

  • Scholander, P.F., L. van Dam, J.W. Kanwisher, H.T. Hammel and M.S. Gordon: Supercooling and osmoregulation in Arctic fish. J. cell. comp. Physiol. 49, 5–24 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shier, W.T., Y. Lin and A.L. DeVries: Structure and mode of action of glycoproteins from an Antarctic fish. Biochim. biophys. Acta 263, 406–413 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, H.W.: The absorption and excretion of water and salts by marine teleosts. Am. J. Physiol. 93, 480–505 (1930)

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, R.N.: The freezing resistance of Antarctic fish: I. Serum composition and its relation to freezing resistance. Br. Antarct. Surv. Bull. 28, 1–10 (1972a)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The freezing resistance of Antarctic fish: II. The freezing points of body fluids. Br. Antarct. Surv. Bull. 29, 91–102 (1972b)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The freezing resistance of Antarctic fish: III. An experimental study of the death of supercooled fish resulting from contact with ice. Br. Antarct. Surv. Bull. 30, 81–93 (1972c)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanley, J.G. and W.R. Fleming: Excretion of hypertonic urine by a teleost. Science, N.Y. 144, 63–64 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA

    G. H. Dobbs III & A. L. DeVries

  2. Biology Department, Washington and Lee University, USA

    G. H. Dobbs III

Authors
  1. G. H. Dobbs III
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. L. DeVries
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dobbs, G.H., DeVries, A.L. Renal function in Antarctic teleost fishes: Serum and urine composition. Mar. Biol. 29, 59–70 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00395528

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00395528

Keywords

Search

Navigation