QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s):
Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by EDDY, F. B. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by EDDY, F. B.

Journal of Experimental Biology 118,277-286 (1985)
Published by Company of Biologists 1985

Uptake and Loss of Potassium by Rainbow Trout (Salmo Gairdneri) in Fresh Water and Dilute Sea Water

F. B. EDDY ¹

¹ Department of Biological Sciences, The University, Dundee DD14HN, Scotland U.K.

Potassium turnover was studied in rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, adapted to fresh water or 22% sea water using ⁴²K and ⁸⁶Rb. Potassium space of the whole body increased with time and was about 5 mmol kg^-1 after 20h, while Rb⁺ space under the same conditions was only about 0.5 mmol kg^-1, indicating slow penetration of body K⁺ by Rb⁺, especially in muscle and red blood cells. Potassium influx, measured by decrease in specific activity of the medium, was 0.07 mmol kg^-1 h^-1 in fresh water and 0.48 mmol kg^-1 h^-1 in 22 % sea water; the values for efflux were comparable, indicating that unfed fish are able to maintain K⁺ balance. In both fresh water and dilute sea water, K⁺ fluxes are 5% or less of the simultaneous Na⁺ and Cl^- fluxes. The mechanism for K⁺ fluxes is discussed in terms in K⁺-ATPases.

Key words: Rainbow trout, potassium turnover

Accepted on March 12, 1985