Date of Award:

5-1-1983

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Biology

Department name when degree awarded

Life Sciences:Biology

Committee Chair(s)

Raymond T. Sanders

Committee

Raymond T. Sanders

Committee

N. N. Youssef

Committee

W. A. Brindley

Abstract

The effect of different salinities (1X, 2X, 4X and 8X sea water) on the metabolic rate, glycogen content, mitochondrial morphology and LDHase activity of the immature male brine shrimp, Artemia salina, ranging 5-7 mm in body length, was studied. The metabolic rate was determined by measuring the O2 uptake and CO2 release of the brine shrimp using a Gilson micro-respirometer. Glycogen content was determined by chemical assay and electron microscopic study. Fine structure studies were limited to the skeletal muscle and only the organelles or components of this tissue that were affected by the treatments are described. LDHase activity was determined by an histochemical reaction. In the metabolic rate study, the O2 uptake in 1X, 2X and 4X brine shrimp were the same; 8X brine shrimp consumed considerably more O2. The glycogen content determined by chemical assay and electron microscopic study demonstrated a correlation between glycogen content and salinity. The higher the salinity, the greater the glycogen content in the series of 1X, 4X and 8X or 2X, 4X and 8X. The mitochondria in 2X brine shrimp muscle were the fewest in number, the smallest in size, and had the highest desnity of cristae. These looked healthy and were assumed normal. Salinities higher or lower than 2X sea water proved stressful, affecting mitochondrial morphology. Mitochondria in 1X brine shrimp were swollen and more numerous, they were the largest with the fewest cristae. The mitochondria in 4X and 8X brine shrimp muscle, while being about the same in number, size, and density of cristae, were intermediate between 1X and 2X. These mitochondria (4X and 8X) showed abnormalities such as whorls, blebs and multiple membranes. This agrees with the results from the growth rate study where 2X brine shrimp adapted best (i.e. grew best). LDHase studies demonstrated that all brine shrimp grown at all salinities have LDHase activity. Anaerobic respiration was not observed.

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