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Journal of Experimental Biology 147,43-51 (1989)
Published by Company of Biologists 1989

Ion Homeostasis in the Leech: Contribution of Organic Anions

ULRICH HOEGER ¹, ANGELA WENNING ², and UTE GREISINGER ²

¹ Fakultät für Biologie der Universität Konstanz, Postfach 5560, D-7750 Konstanz, FRG
² Fakultdtfür Biologie der Universität Konstanz, Postfach 5560, D-7750 Konstanz, FRG

Organic anion concentrations in the blood of Hirudo medicinalis were determined in samples from individual animals using reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet detection. Quantitatively important anions were malate, -ketoglutarate, succinate, lactate and fumarate, constituting about 70% of total blood anions. Malate had the highest concentration, 34–68 mequiv I^-1 blood, which could (depending on metabolic state) exceed the level of blood Cl^- (approx. 36 mequiv I^-1). Organic acid concentrations in the blood were considerably higher than in the tissue.

Blood organic acid concentrations changed more with P_OO2 than with temperature. They were unaffected by short periods of aerobic exercise, but stress due to handling and prolonged restraint led to a drastic increase of blood lactate and succinate levels, while malate, fumarate and a-ketoglutarate levels decreased.

After feeding on hypertonic, Cl^--rich meals, the Cl^- concentration in leech blood increased far more than the cation concentrations. This was not compensated by a decrease of organic acid levels. The regulatory mechanisms for inorganic and organic ion homeostasis function independently.

Key words: organic acids, organic anions, ion regulation, osmotic stress, blood constituents, leech, Hirudo medicinalis, Hirudinea

Accepted on May 30, 1989

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