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Hormonal control of osmoregulation in the indian freshwater leech, poecilobdella viridis (Blanchard)

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Abstract

Leeches maintained either in tap-water or under desiccated conditions show a continuous decline in body-weight. Debrained leeches show a significantly greater loss of weight than unoperated or sham-operated controls. Injections of brain homogenate (0.2 ml/leech = 3 brains/leech) significantly (p<0.01) reduces weight loss in debrained leeches, whereas saline injections are without effect. The results indicate that water (weight) loss is influenced by a neurosecretory hormone secreted by the brain of Poecilobdella viridis.

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Notes

  1. Not referred to the original.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Marathwada University, 431004, Aurangabad, India

    G. K. Kulkarni & R. Nagabhushanam

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  1. G. K. Kulkarni
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  2. R. Nagabhushanam
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Kulkarni, G.K., Nagabhushanam, R. Hormonal control of osmoregulation in the indian freshwater leech, poecilobdella viridis (Blanchard). Hydrobiologia 59, 197–201 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00036498

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