J.A Petersen

Biochemical studies on the giant earthworm Glossoscolex giganteus (Leuckart).

Abstract 1. 1. The sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, inorganic phosphorus, sulphur, copper, bicarbonate, protein, urea, glucose, total lipids, copper oxidase activity, total iodine and protein-bound iodine contents of the blood of the giant earthworm Glossoscolex giganteus (Leuckart) were determined. 2. 2. The osmolarity of the blood was 181 mOsm/l. and the pH was 7·43. 3. 3. No alkaline phosphatase activity was detected in the blood, the uric acid contents being very low. 4. 4. The values for inorganic constituents in septal muscles, parietal muscles with cuticle, pseudo-hearts and faeces are given.

Urea and uric acid contents in the hepatopancreas, kidney and lung of active and dormant snails, Strophocheilus and Thaumastus (Pulmonata, Mollusca)

Abstract 1. 1. The urea and uric acid contents of the hepatopancreas, lung and kidney of Strophocheilus oblongus musculus and Thaumastus achilles were determined in active and dormant snails. 2. 2. Urea increases in the hepatopancreas and lung of the two species, both in hibernation and estivation; during hibernation urea increases in the kidney of the two species, but in estivation the kidney of Strophocheilus looses urea, while Thaumastus accumulates it. 3. 3. Uric acid increases in the hepatopancreas and lung of hibernating animals of both species, while it diminishes in the kidney. During estivation the hepatopancreas of Strophocheilus accumulates uric acid, while the same organ in Thaumastus looses it; the lung of both species accumulates uric acid, while in the kidney the levels of this substance diminish in estivation. 4. 4. Specimens of Strophocheilus in estivation may lose up to 68 per cent of their soft body weight, while in hibernating animals this loss rarely exceeds 40 per cent.

Comparative biochemical studies in Sipunculus natans and Sipunculus multisulcatus (Sipuncula)

Abstract 1. 1. Chemical determinations were made in the coelomic fluid of S. natans and S. multisulcatus , data being presented for water, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulphur, copper, copper oxidase, iodine, iron, chloride, glucose, urea, uric acid, haemoglobin, protein, acid and alkaline phosphatase. 2. 2. The chemical composition of parietal muscles, introvert, retractor muscle of the introvert, esophagus, nerve cord, tentacles, digestive tract and nephridia was also determined. 3. 3. The body wall of both species presents the highest levels for sodium and potassium in relation to all other structures studied; iron is accumulated in the esophagus, while the nerve cord contains the highest levels of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sulphur. 4. 4. Very high concentrations of iodine were observed in the nephridia, suggesting that aside from its excretory and osmoregulatory functions, the nephridia may also be involved in the metabolism of this halogen.

Sex differences and maturation influence on the chemical composition in Chaetopterus variopedatus Rénier 1804 (Polychaeta).

Abstract 1. 1. The water, sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, sulphur, nitrogen, copper, iron and glycogen of the different regions of Chaetopterus variopedatus Renier were determined. 2. 2. The iodine content of different regions and of several structures, including aliform notopodia and setae was also determined, a remarkable concentration of iodine being found in both of the structures mentioned above. 3. 3. The chemical constitutions of the mucus and tube were determined, as well as the nitrogen content of the faeces. 4. 4. The influence of sex was determined in relation to sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, sulphur, nitrogen and glycogen. 5. 5. Comparisons were also made in relation to the influence of maturity on the chemical composition of Chaetopterus .

Comparative biochemical studies on Balanoglossus clavigerus and Willeyia loya (enteropneusta, hemichordata)

Abstract 1. 1. The contents of water, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulphur, copper, iron, iodine and nitrogen in the different regions of Balanoglossus clavigerus and Willeyia loya were determined and compared with those of B. gigas. 2. 2. The glycogen content of B. clavigerus was determined and compared with that of B. gigas. 3. 3. The comparison of the results obtained for the species considered points to a remarkable similarity in the elementary chemical composition in different enteropneusts.

Biochemical studies in Glossobalanus crozieri (ptychoderidae, enteropneusta, hemichordata)

Abstract 1. 1. Determinations on the contents of water, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, chloride, nitrogen and iodine were made in the proboscis, collar, branchial region, genital region, hepatic region and intestinal region of specimens of Glossobalanus crozieri . 2. 2. The results obtained were compared with those already observed for Balanoglossus gigas, B. clavigerus and Willeyia loya , which also inhabit the same general area. 3. 3. The hepatic region of G. crozieri presents the higher levels observed so far in any enteropneust.

Influence of prolonged fasting on the biochemistry of Lissomyema exilii (echiura)

Abstract 1. 1. The water, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, nitrogen and glucose contents were determined in recently collected animals and in those submitted to fasting for up to 160 days. 2. 2. The water, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, iron, nitrogen, glycogen and total carbohydrate contents were determined for the parietal muscles, proboscis and digestive tract in similarly treated animals, the values obtained being discussed in relation to the duration of fasting. 3. 3. In relation to the coelomic fluid, the contents of sodium, potassium, magnesium and copper increase markedly with prolonged fasting; those of nitrogen and phosphorus show a slight increase while those of water, calcium, iron and glucose decrease noticeably.

Comparative biochemical studies on the marine polychaetes Mesochaetopterus xerecus and Telepsavus costarum.

1. 1. The contents of water, sodium, potassium. calcium. magnesium, phosphorus, copper, iron, nitrogen, sulphur, iodine and chloride were determined in the tubes of Chaetopterus sp., Mesochaetopterus xerecus and Telepsavus costarum, and compared with those found for the tube of Chaetopterus variopedatus. 2. 2. The contents of water, sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, sulphur, nitrogen, copper, iron, iodine and glycogen were determined in whole specimens and in different portions of M. xerecus and T. costarum, and compared with data previously obtained for C. variopedatus. 3. 3. In T. costarum, which presents very high glycogen levels, mature animals contain more glycogen than immature ones, no differences being detected in relation to sex.

Metabolic balances in Strophocheilus (pulmonata, mollusca) on different diets

Abstract 1. 1. Determinations were made of the balances of water, calcium, nitrogen, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, sodium, potassium and sulphur in specimens of Strophocheilus subjected to diets of cabbage or lettuce, these plants being selected as food due to their different contents in nitrogen and calcium. 2. 2. Positive balances were observed in relation to water, calcium, phosphorus, sulphur, magnesium, sodium and potassium. 3. 3. A negative balance was noticed in relation to nitrogen, especially in the diet with lettuce. 4. 4. A remarkable equilibrium is noticed in the copper balance.

Biochemical studies on Phragmatopomalapidosa Kinberg 1867 (Sabellariidae, polychaeta)

Abstract 1. 1. The water, sodium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, nitrogen, copper, iron, iodine, and glycogen content of entire mature male and female specimens of Phragmatopoma lapidosa Kinberg were determined. The same components were also determined in the anterior, median and posterior portions of the animals, including both males and females. 2. 2. In entire animals significative differences in the chemical composition of males and females were observed in relation to magnesium, copper and iodine 3. 3. The different portions being taken into consideration, significative results between males and females were noticed in relation to water, nitrogen, magnesium, copper, iodine and glycogen.