Larval brine shrimp (Nauplii): a potentially useful model to study cystic fibrosis.

One of the most consistent characteristics of cystic fibrosis is the abnormal 
handling of electrolytes by exocrine glands. The present study has examined 
the possibility that diminished respiratory energy formation is a primary biochemical 
error responsible for this abnormality. Using oxygen consumption of intact larval 
brine shrimp, quantitative differences have been observed from reaction of mixed 
mouth saliva between CF heterozygotes and CF homozygotes. In addition, information 
demonstrating a correlation between a biochemical abnormality and disease severity was 
observed. The differences observed in inhibition by saliva from both CF 
homozygotes and obligate heterozygotes may occur as the result of 1) 
interference with electron transfer from organic fuel molecules to molecular oxygen 
or 2) interference with the mechanism responsible for generating the biochemical 
reducing power necessary for multiple biosynthetic reactions. 