Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Cowan, F. B. M. (1990). Does the lachrymal salt gland of malaclemys terrapin have a significant role in osmoregulation? Canadian Journal of Zoology, 68(7), 1520–1524.
Added by: Admin (24 Aug 2008 17:39:46 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article BibTeX citation key: Cowan1990 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Emydidae, Malaclemys, Malaclemys terrapin, Physiologie = physiology, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises Creators: Cowan Collection: Canadian Journal of Zoology |
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| Abstract |
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Malaclemys terrapin Several reptiles possess glands capable of secreting fluids with sodium chloride as the major solute. Almost all studies have measured total sodium chloride secreted by these glands, not the concentration of ions. Thus, it has been difficult to evaluate the role of these glands in osmoregulation. The results reported herein on a large sample of Malaclemys terrapin indicate the lachrymal gland is capable of secreting tears with concentrations of sodium chloride exceeding 500 mM. However, the absolute amount of sodium chloride secreted and the generation of "free water" is relatively low, and the response to salt loading is somewhat inconsistent. Furthermore, the lachrymal gland responds consistently to the presence of irritating fumes not apparently related to osmo- or iono-regulation. The ionic and organic contents of the tears resulting from ionic and nonionic stimuli are similar, suggesting that the lachrymal gland is not a dedicated salt gland, but a gland differentiated to serve some other role, as in many other animals. The gland may be adapted to carry out that role with minimal water loss, as expected in euryhaline animal. The evidence indicates that the control of the lachrymal gland in M. terrapin is considerably more complex than that of other known salt glands.
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