Isolation and functional characterization of crustacean larval salt gland

A batch method for isolating viable salt glands from the naupliar brine shrimp (Artemia salina) has been developed. This protocol produces a final preparation consisting of approximately 185 isolated salt glands, representing 1 X 10(4) secretory cells/g wet wt nauplii, with a final purity of 88%. Assays of cell integrity and function indicate good retention of in situ characteristics. Vital dye was excluded by 95% of the cells for at least 24 h. The O2 consumption rate was 22.7 nM O2 X min-1 X mg protein-1 and could be altered predictably by compounds known to affect oxidative phosphorylation and ion transport. The specific activity of the Na+-K+-ATPase in the salt gland, measured here for the first time, was 9.1 mM Pi X h-1 X mg protein-1. This is a substantial proportion of the body total, 17%, as expected for an active ion-transporting epithelium.