Functional and morphological plasticity of crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) salt glands

The Journal of Experimental Biology
Rebecca L CrampCraig E Franklin

Abstract

The estuarine crocodile, Crocodylus porosus, inhabits both freshwater and hypersaline waterways and maintains ionic homeostasis by excreting excess sodium and chloride ions via lingual salt glands. In the present study, we sought to investigate the phenotypic plasticity, both morphological and functional, in the lingual salt glands of the estuarine crocodile associated with chronic exposure to freshwater (FW) and saltwater (SW) environments. Examination of haematological parameters indicated that there were no long-term disruptions to ionic homeostasis with prolonged exposure to SW. Maximal secretory rates from the salt glands of SW-acclimated animals (100.8+/-14.7 micromol 100 g(-0.7) body mass h(-1)) were almost three times greater than those of FW-acclimated animals (31.6+/-6.2 micromol 100 g(-0.7) body mass h(-1)). There were no differences in the mass-specific metabolic rate of salt gland tissue slices from FW- and SW-acclimated animals (558.9+/-49.6 and 527.3+/-142.8 microl O(2) g(-1) h(-1), respectively). Stimulation of the tissue slices from SW-acclimated animals by methacholine resulted in a 33% increase in oxygen consumption rate. There was no significant increase in the metabolic rate of tissues from FW-acclimated an...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 16, 2012·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Leslie S Babonis, François Brischoux
Mar 20, 2010·Journal of Comparative Physiology. B, Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology·Rebecca L CrampCraig E Franklin
Jun 16, 2010·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Hamish A CampbellCraig E Franklin
May 9, 2019·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Amanda Southwood WilliardStephen R Midway
Jun 15, 2021·The Anatomical Record : Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology·Marta S Fernández, Yanina Herrera

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