RESPIRATION 117 



present. The ability of lombricine, in common with taurocyamine 

 and glycocyamine to accept -^P quaHiies it as a good candidate for 

 the role of phosphagen in a similar manner to the part played by 

 creatine phosphate in vertebrates, and in contra-distinction to the 

 long accepted role of arginine phosphate in invertebrates. It is 

 interesting to note that arginine is not able to act as a phosphate 

 acceptor using Lumhricus enzyme preparations (Pant, 1960). 



Summary 



Respiratory exchange of gases occurs across the body wall and in 

 some species behaviour is modified according to availability of 

 ambient oxygen. Body size has an effect upon the respiratory 

 uptake. Diffusion into the capillaries of the body wall is probably 

 important as gaseous exchange can be modified by various drugs. 

 Haemoglobin in the blood system is in solution and is engaged in 

 uptake and transport at all times. It shows a slight *'Bohr" effect, 

 and more than one haemoglobin type is probably present. A 

 certain amount of information is available regarding metabolic 

 processes in the cells of earthworms ; the system seems to parallel 

 that of vertebrates although the phosphagen present, lombricine, 

 is a recent discovery. 



