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First published online February 15, 2006
Journal of Experimental Biology 209, 834-844 (2006)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2006
doi: 10.1242/jeb.02057

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Cardiovascular and behavioural changes during water absorption in toads, Bufo alvarius and Bufo marinus

Arne L. Viborg^1,*, Tobias Wang² and Stanley D. Hillyard³

¹ Zoophysiological Laboratory, August Krogh Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
² Department of Zoophysiology, University of Aarhus, Denmark
³ School of Dental Medicine and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: alviborg{at}aki.ku.dk)

Accepted 21 December 2005

Blood cell flux (BCF) in the pelvic skin of Bufo marinus was lower than Bufo alvarius when toads rehydrated from deionised water (DI) or 50 mmol l^–1 NaCl (NaCl). Despite the lower BCF in B. marinus, water absorption was not different between the species when toads rehydrated from DI or NaCl. When fluid contact was limited to the pelvic skin, water uptake from NaCl was lower than from DI, but became greater than uptake from DI as the immersion level increased. Hydrophobic beeswax coating the lateral sides reduced absorption from NaCl but not from DI. Toads settled into water absorption response posture well after maximal BCF was attained in both DI and NaCl, indicating that the behavioural response requires neural integration beyond the increase in BCF. Water exposure increased BCF in hydrated B. alvarius with empty bladders but not in those with stored bladder water. Hydrated B. marinus with an empty bladder did not increase BCF when given water. Handling stress depressed BCF but increased central arterial flow (CAF), measured using a flow probe around the dorsal aorta. In undisturbed toads, CAF increased with the same time course as BCF while heart rate remained relatively constant, suggesting redistribution of blood flow.

Key words: toad, Bufo marinus, Bufo alvarius, water absorption, blood flow

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