The shark rectal gland: a model for the active transport of chloride

Yale J Biol Med. 1979 Nov-Dec;52(6):517-23.

Abstract

The rectal gland of the spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias, provides an easily studied model of active chloride transport powered indirectly by Na-K-ATPase. Co-transport of sodium with chloride can be demonstrated in membrane vesicles isolated from basolateral membranes of the gland. Chloride secretion is under the hormonal control of vasoactive intestinal peptide, and possibly other agents, via adenyl cyclase and cyclic AMP. A similar mechanism is probably responsible for the active transport of chloride across other biological membranes.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Transport, Active
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Chlorides / metabolism*
  • Dogfish / metabolism*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Salt Gland / metabolism*
  • Sharks / metabolism*
  • Sodium / metabolism
  • Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / metabolism
  • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / physiology
  • Water-Electrolyte Balance

Substances

  • Chlorides
  • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
  • Sodium
  • Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase