EFFECT OF BACTERIA ON RADIOPHOSPHORUS METABOLISM IN YEARLING SALMON, SALMO SALAR L.

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Author: Srivastava, P. N.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1960
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z60-056; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z60-056

The effect of bacteria on radiophosphorus and its metabolism in organic and inorganic forms was studied in yearling salmon, Salmo salar L. The fish absorbed 39.6% of P 32 from aquaria to which the antibiotic tetracycline was added because bacteria were inactivated and the added P 32 remained in inorganic form. In controls, where bacteria either ingested or transformed three-fifths of the P 32 into organic phosphorus, the fish utilized 27.5%. The turnover time was slower in controls than in treated fish. In a second experiment fish were maintained in exclusively organic or inorganic P 32 and those in the latter utilized phosphorus more readily (43.0%) than fishes maintained in organic P 32 (24.5%). Turnover time for fish in organic phosphorus was also slower than for inorganic. The conclusion is that fishes select inorganic rather than organic salts but if they are forced to remain in the latter, they can absorb them at a reduced rate.