Hepatic urea biosynthesis in the euryhaline elasmobranch Carcharhinus leucas.
Plasma urea levels and hepatic urea production in the euryhaline bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas, acclimated to freshwater and seawater environments were measured. It was found that plasma urea concentration increased with salinity and that this increase was, in part, the result of a significant increase in hepatic production of urea. This study provides direct evidence that hepatic production of urea plays an important role in the osmoregulatory strategy of C. leucas.
Anderson
W Gary
WG
Department of Zoology, University of Manitoba, Duff Roblin Building, Winnipeg, Man., Canada R3T 2N2. andersow@cc.umanitoba.ca
Good
Jonathan P
JP
Pillans
Richard D
RD
Hazon
Neil
N
Franklin
Craig E
CE
D000064:Acclimatization; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005618:Fresh Water; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012623:Seawater; D012754:Sharks / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism*
D014508:Urea