Hormonal Effect on the Osmotic, Electrolyte and Nitrogen Balance in Terrestrial Amphibia

Abstract

Two main hormones regulate water balance in amphibian. First, mesotocin (MT) acting as a diuretic agent, and second arginine vasotocin (AVT) being an anti-diuretic hormone. In addition, prolactin (PRL), aldosterone, corticosterone, angiotensin II and atriunatriuretic hormones, play a role too in regulating water and ion balance. The hormones affect the epidermis and bladder permeability to water and ions as well as the kidney through the control of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The main questions concern the presence and action of these hormones during the amphibian's life history. Are they present in both larval and adult stages? Are these hormones being synthesized in both aquatic and terrestrial adult phases? Under what circumstances are they being stored or released? Would the target organs (epidermis, bladder, kidney) respond in a similar way during all periods? The problem is the fact that under most circumstances an amphibian while in an aquatic environment responds physiologically differently than when on land. Only partial information concerning hormone presence, release and control of water balance is available at the moment, and even that is fragmentary and based on only a very small number of amphibian species.

Expression of prolactin-releasing peptide and prolactin in the euryhaline mudskippers ( Periophthalmus modestus ): prolactin-releasing peptide as a primary regulator of prolactin

“…water PRL was synthesized (Warburg 1995). The brain PrRP and pituitary PRL mRNAs increased after 1 week in fresh water as well, demonstrating that the brain-pituitary axis also operates in fresh water.…”

Expression of prolactin-releasing peptide and prolactin in the euryhaline mudskippers ( Periophthalmus modestus ): prolactin-releasing peptide as a primary regulator of prolactin

“…water PRL was synthesized (Warburg 1995). The brain PrRP and pituitary PRL mRNAs increased after 1 week in fresh water as well, demonstrating that the brain-pituitary axis also operates in fresh water.…”

Parasite infection intensity and infection site, rather than host species, shape the histopathological effects of trematode infections in anuran tadpoles

“…This process of alteration of tissue architecture is closely associated with a decrease in nephron efficiency, resulting in impairments to the organism’s filtration capacity and water homeostasis (Mahmoud et al 2022). In developing organisms, such as anurans in the larval stage, such alterations may be even more critical, since osmotic balance and the elimination of metabolites are fundamental for metamorphosis and survival (Blaustein et al 2012; Warburg 1995).…”

Testing whether adrenal steroids mediate phenotypic and physiologic effects of elevated salinity on larval tiger salamanders

“…Other hormones may play stronger roles in acclimation and tolerance to salinity than ALDO. For other amphibians, changes in plasma ion concentrations, retention of urea, and regulation of other hormones such as arginine vasotocin, prolactin, and atrial natriuretic peptide can benefit iono‐ and osmoregulation in saline conditions (Warburg 1995; Hillyard et al . 2008; Hopkins & Brodie Jr 2015).…”

Expression of prolactin-releasing peptide and prolactin in the euryhaline mudskippers ( Periophthalmus modestus ): prolactin-releasing peptide as a primary regulator of prolactin

“…water PRL was synthesized (Warburg 1995). The brain PrRP and pituitary PRL mRNAs increased after 1 week in fresh water as well, demonstrating that the brain-pituitary axis also operates in fresh water.…”

Parasite infection intensity and infection site, rather than host species, shape the histopathological effects of trematode infections in anuran tadpoles

“…This process of alteration of tissue architecture is closely associated with a decrease in nephron efficiency, resulting in impairments to the organism’s filtration capacity and water homeostasis (Mahmoud et al 2022). In developing organisms, such as anurans in the larval stage, such alterations may be even more critical, since osmotic balance and the elimination of metabolites are fundamental for metamorphosis and survival (Blaustein et al 2012; Warburg 1995).…”

Testing whether adrenal steroids mediate phenotypic and physiologic effects of elevated salinity on larval tiger salamanders

“…Other hormones may play stronger roles in acclimation and tolerance to salinity than ALDO. For other amphibians, changes in plasma ion concentrations, retention of urea, and regulation of other hormones such as arginine vasotocin, prolactin, and atrial natriuretic peptide can benefit iono‐ and osmoregulation in saline conditions (Warburg 1995; Hillyard et al . 2008; Hopkins & Brodie Jr 2015).…”

Expression of prolactin-releasing peptide and prolactin in the euryhaline mudskippers ( Periophthalmus modestus ): prolactin-releasing peptide as a primary regulator of prolactin

“…water PRL was synthesized (Warburg 1995). The brain PrRP and pituitary PRL mRNAs increased after 1 week in fresh water as well, demonstrating that the brain-pituitary axis also operates in fresh water.…”

Parasite infection intensity and infection site, rather than host species, shape the histopathological effects of trematode infections in anuran tadpoles

“…This process of alteration of tissue architecture is closely associated with a decrease in nephron efficiency, resulting in impairments to the organism’s filtration capacity and water homeostasis (Mahmoud et al 2022). In developing organisms, such as anurans in the larval stage, such alterations may be even more critical, since osmotic balance and the elimination of metabolites are fundamental for metamorphosis and survival (Blaustein et al 2012; Warburg 1995).…”

Testing whether adrenal steroids mediate phenotypic and physiologic effects of elevated salinity on larval tiger salamanders

“…Other hormones may play stronger roles in acclimation and tolerance to salinity than ALDO. For other amphibians, changes in plasma ion concentrations, retention of urea, and regulation of other hormones such as arginine vasotocin, prolactin, and atrial natriuretic peptide can benefit iono‐ and osmoregulation in saline conditions (Warburg 1995; Hillyard et al . 2008; Hopkins & Brodie Jr 2015).…”