QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s):
Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by HARRISON, F. M. Articles by MARTIN, A. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by HARRISON, F. M. Articles by MARTIN, A. W.

Journal of Experimental Biology 42,71-98 (1965)
Published by Company of Biologists 1965

Excretion in the Cephalopod, Octopus Dofleini

F. M. HARRISON ¹ and A. W. MARTIN ²

¹ Department of Zoology, University of Washington; Bio-Medical Research Division, University of Calfornia Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, Livermore, California
² Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington

1. Experiments have been performed to determine some of the processes involved in urine formation in the octopus. The concentration of specific substances was followed in serial samples of the blood, pericardial fluid and urine for extended periods of time before and after the administration of metabolic poisons.

2. The results with inulin indicate that it is filtered since its concentration is approximately the same in the blood, pericardial fluid and urine. It is proposed that filtration of the blood occurs within the pericardial cavity.

3. The results with glucose indicate that it is reabsorbed from the filtrate in the pericardial cavity and reno-pericardial canal. Phlorizin administration increased the glucose concentration in the pericardial fluid and urine to the level of that in the blood.

4. The filtrate flows by way of the reno-pericardial canal into the renal sac. The results with phenolsulphonphthalein (PSP), para-amino hippuric acid (PAH) and urea indicate that active secretion into the filtrate takes place in the renal sacs. PSP, PAH and urea were in higher concentration in the urine than in the blood and pericardial fluid. The secretion of PAH and PSP was inhibited by DNP and benemid.

5. The theory of urine formation proposed is the following. Filtration of the blood occurs across the wall of the branchial heart appendage into the pericardial cavity. The filtrate formed passes by way of the reno-pericardial canal into the renal sacs. Reabsorption occurs en route to the renal sacs. Active secretion into the filtrate occurs in the renal sacs from where the filtrate is expelled to the outside as urine.