Calcium Metabolism in Bullfrog Tadpoles (Rana Catesbeiana)

Abstract

Non-feeding bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpoles can maintain their body Ca concentration in artificial pond waters containing a range of Ca concentrations. The rate of uptake of 45Ca increases when the tadpoles are preadapted to a low-Ca pond water and declines when they are pre-adapted to high Ca. Measurement of drinking rate shows that drinking could account for only 5% of the influx. From in vitro experiments, it is estimated that about 70% of the influx occurs accoss the gills, and about 25% through the skin. Calcitonin decreases accumulation of 45Ca while 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D3 increases it; parathyroid hormone was without effect. Efflux of 45Ca was unchanged by calcitonin or parathyroid hormone.