Direct Microprobe Evidence of Local Concentration Gradients and Recycling of Electrolytes During Fluid Absorption in the Rectal Papillae of Calliphora

Abstract

1. The concentrations of sodium, potassium and chloride and dry mass were measured by electron-probe X-ray micro-analysis in 1 μm thick frozen-hydrated sections from Calliphora rectum in 5 different states of absorptive function. 2. In all cases the average concentrations of sodium + potassium + chloride was consistently higher in the fluid in the lateral intercellular spaces than in the cytoplasm, the average ratio being 2:1 in water-fed flies and higher in water-deprived flies. 3. The highest concentration of electrolytes was found in the extracellular channel of complex lateral membrane stacks, which is consistent with the histochemical localization of major cation pumps at these sites (Berridge & Gupta, 1968). This concentration exceeded the electrolyte concentration in other tissue compartments by some 80 m-equiv/1 H2O in water-fed flies and about 700 m-equiv/1 H2O in water-deprived flies. The potassium and sodium concentration ratio of this extracellular fluid was nearly 1:1 in water-fed flies, 3:1 in water-deprived flies with KC1 in the rectal lumen, and 0·5:1 with NaCl in the rectal lumen. 4. Results suggest that the extracellular fluid is generated in membrane infoldings along the intercellular channels, and that this fluid gains water and sodium, but loses a variable amount of potassium and chloride, as it passes to the haemolymph, thus supporting the idea of local osmosis and ion recycling.