Abstract

ABSTRACT When transferred from 865 to 250 m-osmol salinity, the blue crab C. sapidus maintains its blood Na+ and Cl− concentrations significantly above those in the medium. When branchial carbonic anhydrase is inhibited by acetazolamide, ion regulation fails and the animals do not survive the transfer. An alkalosis occurs in the blood at low salinity, indicated by an increase in HCO3− and pH at constant . The alkalosis is closely correlated with an increase in the Na+–Cl− difference, a convenient indicator of the overall strong ion difference. The contribution’ of changes in to acid-base changes was negligible, but the change in the total weak acid (proteins) may be important. It is suggested that the change in blood acidbase status with salinity is related to an increase in the strong ion difference, which changes during the transition from osmoconformity to osmoregulation in the blue crab, and which is related to both carbonic anhydrase and ion-activated ATPases.

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