IONIC BALANCE IN BLOOD AND COELOMIC FLUID OF EARTHWORMS

Abstract

The concentrations of Na, K, and Ca are higher in the blood than in coelomic fluid of Lumbricus terrestris and Helodrilus caliginosus in moist soil, tap water and 0.1[image] NaCl solution. There is no difference in Cl concentration being about 50% of that of the concentration of Na. The Na concentration of the body fluids in L. terrestris and Eisenia foetida is maintained greater than that of the medium when placed in 0.1 M NaCl solution, a concentration greater than that of the body fluids of animals in soil or tap water.