Salt gland secretion in the pelagic sea snake Pelamis.

DUNSON, !%kSAM A. Salt ghnd secretion in tha pelagic sea snake (Pelclmis). Am. J. Physiol. 2 15(6) : 1512-l 517. 1968.---The pelagic sea snake Pehmis plnturus was examined for the presence of a functional salt gland. After salt loading, a solution highly concentrated in NaCl was collected from the tip of the mouth. The maximum rate of extracloacal NaCl excretion was about 200 pmoles/ 100 g per hr. Extracloacal K losses ranged from 1 to 9 pmoles/ 100 g per hr. The total amount of NaCl excreted extracloacally was the same as the load injected. Sucrose loads exerted an effect one-half that of an equivalent number of millimoles of NaCl, suggesting an osmotic control of gland secretion. During periods of salt loading, more Na, Cl, and K were excreted extracloacally than cloacally. Urine was always hypoosmotic to the plasma. These data show that a powerful salt gland is present, emptying into the oral region of this sea snake.