Summary
1. Isolated photophores of Maurolicus muelleri, maintained in saline at 20 °C, consume oxygen at a mean rate of 1.25 ± 0.07 nmol O2 min−1 (N = 50).
2. In the presence of 5 × 10−6 mol l−1 KCN, seven preparations did not luminesce while two showed only dim luminescence. In all nine preparations, the resting oxygen consumption decreased by about 50%.
3. In the presence of 5 × 10−5 mol l−1 KCN, all of the photophores produced a slow, low luminescence and their oxygen consumption decreased by about 75%.
4. In the presence of 5 × 10−4 mol l−1 KCN, all of the photophores produced a slow, high luminescence and their oxygen consumption decreased rapidly by about 92%.
5. It is suggested that the oxygen needs for light production by the isolated photophores of the mesopelagic fish, Maurolicus, differ from those of the epipelagic fish, Porichthys.
- © 1986 by Company of Biologists