Sodium Regulation in the Freshwater Mollusc Limnaea Stagnalis (L.) (Gastropoda: Pulmonata)

Abstract

1. Sodium regulation in normal, sodium-depleted and blood-depleted snails has been investigated. 2. Limnaea stagnalis has a sodium uptake mechanism with a high affinity for sodium ions, near maximum influx occurring in external sodium concentrations of 1.5-2 mM-Na/l and half maximum influx at 0.25 mM-Na/l. 3. L. stagnalis can maintain sodium balance in media containing 0.025 mM-Na/l. Adaptation to this concentration is achieved mainly by an increased rate of sodium uptake and a fall of 37 % in blood sodium concentration, but also by a reduction of the sodium loss rate and a decrease in blood volume. 4. A loss of 23% of total body sodium is necessary to stimulate increased sodium uptake. This loss causes near maximal stimulation of the sodium uptake mechanism. 5. An experimentally induced reduction of blood volume in L. stagnalis increases sodium uptake to three times the normal level. 6. About 40% of sodium influx from artificial tap water containing 0.35 mM-Na/l into normal snails is due to an exchange component. Similar exchange components of sodium influx were also observed in sodium-depleted and blood-depleted snails in the same external sodium concentration.