Osmotic regulation in the embryo of the herring (Clupea harengus)

Abstract

Just before spawning the semen of the herring is isosmotic with the parent blood, the eggs are hyposmotic. Immediately the eggs are placed in sea water of salinities 5, 17·5, 35 and 50 %0 there is a change in the freezing-point of the yolk indicating that it has approached close to being isosmotic with the water. Changes in the freezing-point of the yolk during development indicate that the overgrowing embryo gradually regulates the osmotic concentration of the yolk, although full regulation is not achieved until after the closing of the blastopore. After this point there is no significant change in the freezing-point of the yolk or body fluids. Regulation is most probably brought about by the activity of the cells of the ectoderm.