Haemolymph plasma composition of the invasive snail Pomacea canaliculata (Architaenioglossa, Ampullariidae)

JUAN A. CUETO, MAXIMILIANO GIRAUD-BILLOUD, ISRAEL A. VEGA, ALFREDO CASTRO-VAZQUEZ

MOLLUSCAN RESEARCH

MAGNOLIA PRESS

Año: 2010

1323-5818

We here report the haemolymph plasma composition of Pomacea canaliculata. Osmolarity, pH, and the concentration of electrolytes, two metals, monosaccharides, total proteins, free amino acids and other nitrogen compounds were measured. P. canaliculata behaved as a moderately hyperosmolar regulator. Glucose, but not galactose, was detected in plasma. The cations found were (in decreasing order) sodium, calcium, potassium and magnesium, while chloride was the main inorganic anion, followed by bicarbonate and phosphate. Total plasma copper (the metal component of haemocyanin) was in a much higher concentration than that of total iron. Ammonia was the main nitrogen-excretory compound. Uric acid (which is not actually excreted in this species) showed a lower but consistently determined concentration in plasma, while urea was undetectable (<0.08 mmol/L). Seventeen proteinogenic amino acids were investigated: two-digit mM concentrations were found for glutamine, alanine, valine, methionine, threonine and leucine (in decreasing order), while one-digit mM concentrations were found for proline, phenylalanine, isoleucine, serine, glycine and glutamic acid; histidine, tyrosine, tryptophan, lysine and aspartic acid were undetectable (<0.2 mmol/L). Results are compared with values reported for other congeneric and non-congeneric species. Pomacea canaliculata. Osmolarity, pH, and the concentration of electrolytes, two metals, monosaccharides, total proteins, free amino acids and other nitrogen compounds were measured. P. canaliculata behaved as a moderately hyperosmolar regulator. Glucose, but not galactose, was detected in plasma. The cations found were (in decreasing order) sodium, calcium, potassium and magnesium, while chloride was the main inorganic anion, followed by bicarbonate and phosphate. Total plasma copper (the metal component of haemocyanin) was in a much higher concentration than that of total iron. Ammonia was the main nitrogen-excretory compound. Uric acid (which is not actually excreted in this species) showed a lower but consistently determined concentration in plasma, while urea was undetectable (<0.08 mmol/L). Seventeen proteinogenic amino acids were investigated: two-digit mM concentrations were found for glutamine, alanine, valine, methionine, threonine and leucine (in decreasing order), while one-digit mM concentrations were found for proline, phenylalanine, isoleucine, serine, glycine and glutamic acid; histidine, tyrosine, tryptophan, lysine and aspartic acid were undetectable (<0.2 mmol/L). Results are compared with values reported for other congeneric and non-congeneric species.