Publication
Title
Cold tolerance and freeze-induced glucose accumulation in three terrestrial slugs
Author
Abstract
Cold tolerance and metabolic responses to freezing of three slug species common in Scandinavia (Anion ater, Arion rufus and Arion lusitanicus) are reported. Autumn collected slugs were cold acclimated in the laboratory and subjected to freezing conditions simulating likely winter temperatures in their habitat. Slugs spontaneously froze at about -4 degrees C when cooled under dry conditions, but freezing of body fluids was readily induced at -1 degrees C when in contact with external ice crystals. All three species survived freezing for 2 days at -1 degrees C, and some A. rufus and A. lusitanicus also survived freezing at -2 degrees C. H-1 NMR spectroscopy revealed that freezing of body fluids resulted in accumulation of lactate, succinate and glucose. Accumulation of lactate and succinate indicates that ATP production occurred via fermentative pathways, which is likely a result of oxygen depletion in frozen tissues. Glucose increased from about 6 to 22 mu g/mg dry tissue upon freezing in A. rufus, but less so in A. ater and A. lusitanicus. Glucose may thus act as a cryoprotectant in these slugs, although the concentrations are not as high as reported for other freeze tolerant invertebrates. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Comparative biochemistry and physiology : A : molecular & integrative physiology. - London
Publication
London : 2012
ISSN
1095-6433
DOI
10.1016/J.CBPA.2012.01.002
Volume/pages
161 :4 (2012) , p. 443-449
ISI
000301698400013
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 14.05.2012
Last edited 09.10.2023
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