Anhydrobiosis in nematodes: Metabolism during resumption of activity

Abstract

Abstract Changes in chemical composition, water content, respiration, and ability to survive rapid dehydration in dry air were studied in nematodes, Aphelenchus avenae , recovering from anhydrobiosis, in water. Water content rises rapidly, from about 0.02 mg H 2 O/mg dry weight to 2.0 mg/mg after five minutes and 2.9 mg/mg after four hours. Glycogen increases from 5 μg/mg to about 25 μg/mg after one hour. Glycerol and trehalose fall from 45 μg/mg and 125 μg/mg respectively to undetectable levels and 70 μg/mg after four hours. Oxygen uptake rises from about 25 nl/mg/min after ten minutes to 450 nl/mg/min after 1.5 hours and then falls to about 150 nl/mg min after four hours. Lipid content declines from 124 μg/mg to 51 μg/mg after 24 hours. Correlations were observed between survival in dry air and glycerol, trehalose, and water contents.