Abstract
Over 56 days of starvation, spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias lost c. 0.3% body mass per day and condition factor and hepato-somatic index declined, but plasma osmolality levels remained higher than seawater levels for the entire period; major osmolytes in the plasma, such as urea, trimethylamine oxide and inorganic ions did not change appreciably. Urea was always the dominant nitrogen waste and was excreted at a constant rate over the 56 day starvation period, suggesting that a minimum rate of urea loss to the environment is unavoidable. Significant amounts of unknown-nitrogen compounds were also excreted at rates higher than that of ammonia. The dogfish can maintain its osmolytes constant despite losing large amounts of nitrogen-rich urea, and therefore maintains plasma hyperosmotic regulation over long-term starvation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 656-670 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Journal of Fish Biology |
| Volume | 72 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 1 2008 |
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Keywords
- Elasmobranch
- Nitrogen excretion
- Osmotic balance
- Starvation
- Urea
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aquatic Science
Cite this
The spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias L. maintains osmolyte balance during long-term starvation. / Kajimura, M.; Walsh, P. J.; Wood, C. M.
In: Journal of Fish Biology, Vol. 72, No. 3, 01.02.2008, p. 656-670.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias L. maintains osmolyte balance during long-term starvation
AU - Kajimura, M.
AU - Walsh, P. J.
AU - Wood, C. M.
PY - 2008/2/1
Y1 - 2008/2/1
N2 - Over 56 days of starvation, spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias lost c. 0.3% body mass per day and condition factor and hepato-somatic index declined, but plasma osmolality levels remained higher than seawater levels for the entire period; major osmolytes in the plasma, such as urea, trimethylamine oxide and inorganic ions did not change appreciably. Urea was always the dominant nitrogen waste and was excreted at a constant rate over the 56 day starvation period, suggesting that a minimum rate of urea loss to the environment is unavoidable. Significant amounts of unknown-nitrogen compounds were also excreted at rates higher than that of ammonia. The dogfish can maintain its osmolytes constant despite losing large amounts of nitrogen-rich urea, and therefore maintains plasma hyperosmotic regulation over long-term starvation.
AB - Over 56 days of starvation, spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias lost c. 0.3% body mass per day and condition factor and hepato-somatic index declined, but plasma osmolality levels remained higher than seawater levels for the entire period; major osmolytes in the plasma, such as urea, trimethylamine oxide and inorganic ions did not change appreciably. Urea was always the dominant nitrogen waste and was excreted at a constant rate over the 56 day starvation period, suggesting that a minimum rate of urea loss to the environment is unavoidable. Significant amounts of unknown-nitrogen compounds were also excreted at rates higher than that of ammonia. The dogfish can maintain its osmolytes constant despite losing large amounts of nitrogen-rich urea, and therefore maintains plasma hyperosmotic regulation over long-term starvation.
KW - Elasmobranch
KW - Nitrogen excretion
KW - Osmotic balance
KW - Starvation
KW - Urea
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=38949150066&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=38949150066&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2007.01756.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2007.01756.x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:38949150066
VL - 72
SP - 656
EP - 670
JO - Journal of Fish Biology
JF - Journal of Fish Biology
SN - 0022-1112
IS - 3
ER -