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Journal of Experimental Biology 125,71-84 (1986)
Published by Company of Biologists 1986

Effects of Ionic Environment on Viscosity of Catch Connective Tissue in Holothurian Body Wall

Yutaka Hayashi ¹ and Tatsuo Motokawa ²

¹ Department of Biology, University ofthe Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-01 Japan: Institute of Biology, Technical University, Franklinstrasse, D-100 West Berlin.
² Department of Biology, University ofthe Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-01 Japan

To whom reprint request should be sent.

1. The effects of cations (H⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) on the mechanical properties of the catch connective tissue in the dermis of a sea cucumber, Holothuria leucospilota Brandt, were studied.

2. The manipulation of the ionic environment caused rapid (apparent in minutes) and reversible viscosity change.

3. Artificial sea water (ASW) with a high concentration of Ca²⁺ (50mmol1^-1) increased the normal viscosity 9 times; Ca²⁺-free ASW decreased it to one-tenth. Ca²⁺ was the only ion which caused a viscosity change whose range was as large as the range of the viscosity distribution of the dermis in ASW.

4. Manipulation of the concentration of other'ions caused an increase in viscosity. An increase of more than five-fold was observed in the following solutions: ASW with acidic (pH4) or basic (pH9, 10) pH; Na⁺-free ASW whose Na⁺ was replaced by either sucrose or choline; ASW with high (100 mmol1^-1) concentration of K⁺ ; ASW with low (0 mmoll^-1) or high (250 mmol1^-1) concentrations of Mg²⁺.

5. The dermis contracted in distilled water, although this tissue contained no muscle cells.

Key words: catch connective tissue, viscosity, Ca²⁺, ionic environment, sea cucumber.

Accepted on April 28, 1986

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