Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Ultrafiltration in the Gastropod Heart

Abstract

IT is generally agreed that the urine of most molluscs is produced initially by ultrafiltration of the haemolymph into the pencardial cavity, and that the composition of this initial filtrate is modified by the kidney before being expelled as urine1–7. The only exceptions are the terrestrial pulmonate gastropods, in which urine seems to be filtered directly into the kidney8,9. Pierce10, however, is not convinced that the heart is the filtration site in lamellibranchs, and suggestions that ultrafiltration occurs through the wall of the auricle in most gastropods were not substantiated by ultrastructural studies of terrestrial and freshwater pulmonates11.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Picken, L. E. R., J. Exp. Biol., 14, 20 (1937).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. van Aardt, W. J., Neth. J. Zool., 18, 253 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Florkin, M., and Duchateau, G., Physiologia Comp. Oecol., 1, 29 (1949).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Harrison, F. M., J. Exp. Biol., 39, 179 (1962).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Harrison, F. M., and Martin, A. W., J. Exp. Biol., 42, 71 (1965).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Little, C., J. Exp. Biol., 43, 39 (1965).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Little, C., J. Exp. Biol., 46, 459 (1967).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Martin, A. W., Stewart, D. M., and Harrison, F. M., J. Exp. Biol., 42, 99 (1965).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Vorwohl, G., Z. Vergl. Physiol., 45, 12 (1961).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Pierce, S. K., Comp. Biochem. Physiol., 36, 521 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Bonga, S. E. W., and Boer, H. H., Z. Zellforsch. Mikrosk. Anat., 94, 513 (1969).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Bloom, W., and Fawcett, D. W., A Textbook of Histology, (Saunders, Philadelphia, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kümmel, G., Zool. Beitr., 10, 227 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

ANDREWS, E., LITTLE, C. Ultrafiltration in the Gastropod Heart. Nature 234, 411–412 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/234411a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/234411a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing