title: Freeze induced glucose accumulation in the enchytraeid, Fredericia ratzeli from Greenland.
abstract: The tolerance of freezing and associated accumulation of cryoprotectants was studied in an Arctic population of the enchytraeid Fredericia ratzeli. At -3 and -5 degrees C specimens readily froze when slowly cooled in contact with moist soil. A small fraction of the animals (10-20 %) survived internal ice formation under these circumstances. Frozen specimens had elevated glucose concentrations as compared to unfrozen control animals acclimated at 0 degrees C. In a fraction of the animals, equal to the fraction surviving freezing, a high concentration of glucose was detected. The highest values amounted to ca. 150 microg mg(-1) dry weight, corresponding to ca. 270 mmoles L(-1). It is argued that the physiology of freeze tolerance in this enchytraeid resembles the physiology described for freeze tolerant earthworms and frogs.
authors.affiliation: National Environmental Research Institute, Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Vejlsøvej 25, P.O. Box 314, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark. mho@dmu.dk
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holmstrup
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sjursen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001110:Arctic Regions; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D005615:Freezing; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006116:Greenland; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D005947:Glucose