| Adaptations to in situ feeding: novel nutrient acquisition pathways in an ancient vertebrate. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 21367787 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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During feeding, hagfish may immerse themselves in the body cavities of decaying carcasses, encountering high levels of dissolved organic nutrients. We hypothesized that this feeding environment might promote nutrient acquisition by the branchial and epidermal epithelia. The potential for Pacific hagfish, Eptatretus stoutii, to absorb amino acids from the environment across the skin and gill was thus investigated. l-alanine and glycine were absorbed via specific transport pathways across both gill and skin surfaces, the first such documentation of direct organic nutrient acquisition in a vertebrate animal. Uptake occurred via distinct mechanisms with respect to concentration dependence, sodium dependence and effects of putative transport inhibitors across each epithelium. Significant differences in the absorbed amino acid distribution between the skin of juveniles and adults were noted. The ability to absorb dissolved organic matter across the skin and gill may be an adaptation to a scavenging lifestyle, allowing hagfish to maximize sporadic opportunities for organic nutrient acquisition. From an evolutionary perspective, hagfish represent a transitory state between the generalized nutrient absorption pathways of aquatic invertebrates and the more specialized digestive systems of aquatic vertebrates. |
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Authors:
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Chris N Glover; Carol Bucking; Chris M Wood |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2011-3-2 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society Volume: - ISSN: 1471-2954 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2011 Mar |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-3-3 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 101245157 Medline TA: Proc Biol Sci Country: - |
Other Details:
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Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Affiliation:
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School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, , Christchurch, New Zealand. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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