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Journal of Experimental Biology 61,761-771 (1974)
Published by Company of Biologists 1974

Active Transport of Magnesium by the Malpighian Tubules of the Larvae of the Mosquito, Aedes Campestris

J. E. PHILLIPS ¹ and S. H. P. MADDRELL ²

¹ Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver 8, B.C., Canada
² Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver 8, B.C., Canada; A. R. C. Unit of Invertebrate Chemistry and Physiology, Department of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, England

1. Larvae of Aedes campestris can survive in water containing up to 100 mM Mg even though they ingest and absorb into the haemolymph considerable amounts of magnesium-rich fluid.

2. Isolated Malpighian tubules, unlike those of Rhodnius and Carausius secreted fluid containing elevated concentrations of magnesium. This transport displayed saturation kinetics, the half-maximal rate being at approximately 2·5 mM Mg.

3. Active transport of magnesium was demonstrated by the secretion of this cation against a tenfold concentration gradient and an electrical potential difference of 15 mV.

4. Magnesium ions are not required for fluid transport, which proceeds independently of magnesium transport. As a result fluid which is secreted slowly contains higher concentrations of magnesium than that which is secreted more rapidly.

5. Magnesium is transported by isolated Malpighian tubules fast enough to account for the observed excretion of magnesium in living mosquito larvae.