Extracellular accumulation of proline, serine and trehalose in the haemolymph of osmoconforming brackish-water mosquitoes.
Larvae of Culex tarsalis, a mosquito, are capable of surviving and developing in dilutions of sea water ranging from 0 mosmol l-1 to 700 mosmol l-1. In waters more dilute than 400 mosmol l-1, the larvae osmoregulate, whereas in those more concentrated than 400 mosmol l-1, the osmotic strength of the haemolymph parallels that of the medium, i.e. the larvae osmoconform. Over the full range of external concentrations tested, the larvae regulate the levels of Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and Cl- in the haemolymph. Analyses of haemolymph samples from larvae adapted to media of 50 mosmol l-1 or 600 mosmol l-1 indicate that the increase in haemolymph osmotic concentration observed in media above 400 mosmol l-1 is due to the accumulation of organic compounds, particularly proline, serine and trehalose.
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D003465:Culex / Q000378:metabolism*; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000032:analysis; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000032:analysis; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011392:Proline / Q000378:metabolism*; D012694:Serine / Q000378:metabolism*; D014199:Trehalose / Q000378:metabolism*
D000596:Amino Acids; D004187:Disaccharides; D004573:Electrolytes; D012694:Serine; D011392:Proline; D014199:Trehalose