Summary

1. The water content, and the concentrations of sodium potassium and chloride in the blood and body water were determined in Gammarus pulex acclimatized to external salinities ranging from 0.06 mM/l NaCl up to 50 % sea water.

2. The mean body water content remained constant at 79.0-80.3 % body wet weight. The total body sodium and chloride concentrations were lowered in 0.06 mM/l NaCl and increased markedly at salinities above 10% sea water. The normal ratio of body sodium/chloride was 1.45-1.70, decreasing to 1.0 at 50% sea water.

3. The total body potassium concentration remained constant at 47.5-55.2 mM/kg body H₂O. The rate of potassium loss across the body surface was relatively fast. Potassium balance was maintained at an external potassium concentration of 0.005 mM/l by starved animals, and at 0.005 mM/l by fed animals.

4. The proportion of body water in the blood space was calculated from the concentrations of potassium and chloride in the blood and in the body water. The blood space contained 38-42% body H₂O in animals from fresh water. The blood space decreased to 31 % body H₂O in animals from 0.06 mM/l NaCl. The sodium space was equivalent to about 70 % body H₂O.

5. The mean intracellular concentrations of sodium, potassium and chloride were estimated and the results were compared with previous analyses made on the tissues of G. pulex and other crustaceans. It was concluded that in G. pulex from fresh water the distribution of potassium and chloride ions between the extracellular blood space and the intracellular space approximately conforms to a Donnan equilibrium. 30-40% of the body sodium is apparently located in the intracellular space.