Untersuchungen zum Harnsäuremetabolismus von Littorina littorea (Gastropoda)

Abstract

Periwinkles, as typical inhabitants of sea-shores, are subjected to extreme changes of environmental conditions, which affect their excretion. In Littorina littorea uric acid, urea and ammonium were detected particularly in the kidney, but the only metabolite excreted was ammonium. Only the concentration of uric acid was dependent on the availability of water; decreasing periods of submersion during low tide and raised salinities caused a higher concentration of uric acid, while increasing periods of submersion and lowered salinities effected the opposite. Transfer of periwinkles within their intertidal habitat and laboratory experiments to test the effect of salinity showed that the concentration of uric acid in the kidney is adaptable. The dependence of uric acid concentration in the kidney on environmental conditions and the ammoniotelic excretion of L. littorea are discussed with regard to its particular living conditions. It is suggested that uric acid serves as nitrogen depot and has a particular function in osmoregulation. © 1983 Biologische Anstalt Helgoland.