CHEMICAL ANATOMY OF THE PERICARDIAL AND PERIVISCERAL FLUIDS OF THE STINGRAY, DASYATIS AMERICANA

¹ Department of Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30902

1. The pH, osmolarity, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca⁺⁺, Mg⁺⁺, Cl^-, urea, NH₃ and total protein content of the serum (S), pericardial fluid (PC) and perivisceral fluid (PV) of the stingray, Dasyatis americana, were estimated and compared to environmental data.

2. The PC and PV were found to be more acid and osmotically less concentrated than S. Although there were no significant differences in either Na⁺ or urea concentrations in the three body fluids, K⁺ was significantly reduced in PC. Ca⁺⁺ and Mg⁺⁺ were significantly less concentrated in PC and PV. Both PV and PC had elevated Cl^- and almost no protein; both contained significantly elevated NH₃ concentration. It follows that recipes for synthetic bathing fluids for elasmo-branch viscera should not be based upon data obtained from plasma or serum analyses.

3. A few specimens of D. say were collected. The data were similar.

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