Metabolism of phospholipids of anterior or posterior gills of the crab Eriocheir sinensis M. EDW, during the adaptation of this animal to media of various salinities

Abstract

1. 1. The lipid composition and the fatty-acid pattern from anterior and posterior gills taken from Eriocheir sinensis adapted to fresh water or to sea water are analysed. 2. 2. Total phospholipids of posterior gills increase when crabs are acclimated in dilute media; lipid content of anterior gills remains constant in fresh water and sea water animals. 3. 3. Fatty-acid pattern of anterior and posterior gills does not change following a variation in the salinity of the exterior medium. 4. 4. Velocity of total phospholipid renewal from inorganic phosphate (P i) and acido-soluble organic phosphate (PoAS) is increased when the crab is living in sea water. 5. 5. The velocity of synthesis of PE, PS and DPG rises at the level of the posterior gills extracted from freshwater animals. 6. 6. is postulated that PE and especially PS play an important part in the control of the active transport of ions located in the posterior gills of Eriocheir sinensis.