An investigation of interrelated factors affecting the flow and concentration of salt-induced nasal secretion in the duck, Anas platyrhynchos

Abstract

1. 1. Short-term electrolyte and fluid balance studies in three ducks revealed that the salt gland was responsible for the excretion of 70–100 per cent of a salt load. 2. 2. The rate of chloride secretion, in salt-loaded ducks, was critically related to increments in plasma chloride concentration, above threshold. 3. 3. A positive correlation was observed, in all ducks, between the rate of chloride secretion and the rate of fluid flow. 4. 4. The concentration of chloride in the secretion, albeit restricted between approximately 400–600 m-equiv/1., was found to correlate significantly with rate of flow in seven out of the eleven ducks. 5. 5. In addition to the rate-dependent effect, the chloride concentration in nasal fluid appeared to depend also on the plasma level.