Summary
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1.
Everted intestinal sacs prepared fromPlatichthys flesus adapted to sea water (SW) have higher rates of salt and water transport than did sacs prepared from fresh water adapted (FW) fish.
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2.
Intestines mounted in Ussing chambers gave stable open-circuit voltages and short-circuit currents after pre-incubation for 20–30 min of −1.91±0.14 (14) mV and −45.0±5.1 (14) μA/cm2, SW fish, and −1.24±0.14 (11) mV and −18.2±3.6 (11) μA/cm2, FW fish.
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3.
Isotope flux measurements indicated a net Na transport of 21.5±4.1 (11) neq/cm2·min in SW fish intestines, but no significant Na transport in FW fish (7.6±7.6 (9) neq/cm2·min). Both preparations showed an active Cl transport, 26.6±6.1 (12) neq/cm2·min for SW and 18.5±9.7 (17) neq/cm2·min for FW fish.
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4.
No significant difference in the uptake of Na or Cl across the mucosa was observed between FW and SW fish. The uptake of both ions showed some saturation at high concentrations.
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5.
Interactions between Na and Cl uptake were small, although Cl uptake was significantlyhigher in Na-free solutions.
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6.
It is concluded that electrogenic Cl transport may be the dominant mechanism for water and salt transport in flounder intestine, and that adaptation to a saline environment involves regulation of pumping rather than of Na or Cl entry across the mucosal membrane.
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Smith, M.W., Ellory, J.C. & Lahlou, B. Sodium and chloride transport by the intestine of the european flounderPlatichthys flesus adapted to fresh or sea water. Pflugers Arch. 357, 303–312 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00585984
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00585984