Eur. J. Entomol. 103 (2): 305-310, 2006 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2006.039

Haemolymph amino acid, sugar and glycerol levels in the Namib Desert tenebrionid Physadesmia globosa (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) during dehydration and rehydration

Strinivasan G. NAIDU
Department of Physiology, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road, Durban 4041,

Haemolymph levels of amino acids, sugars and glycerol were investigated in the tenebrionid Physadesmia globosa during dehydration and rehydration. The absolute amount of amino acid decreases during dehydration and increases during rehydration, indicating active regulation of this solute (the osmolal contribution of amino acids is large - approx. 25%). Changes in the amino acid content of the haemolymph during dehydration are not the result of interchange with soluble protein; the possibility exists during rehydration (between 1 h and 48 h). Trehalose and glucose are the only sugars found in appreciable quantity in the haemolymph of this species. Their osmolal contributions (total sugar: 2.6%), and contributions to osmoregulation, are not great. Glycerol is a minor osmolar effector in the haemolymph of Physadesmia, and changes in its levels do not contribute importantly to the regulation of haemolymph osmotic pressure.

Keywords: Osmoregulation, Physadesmia globosa, Tenebrionidae, Namib Desert, amino acids, trehalose, glycerol

Received: August 12, 2005; Revised: September 26, 2005; Accepted: September 26, 2005; Published: April 6, 2006  Show citation

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NAIDU, S.G. (2006). Haemolymph amino acid, sugar and glycerol levels in the Namib Desert tenebrionid Physadesmia globosa (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) during dehydration and rehydration. EJE, 103(2), 305-310. doi: 10.14411/eje.2006.039
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