POTASSIUM METABOLISM AND THE ACCUMULATION OF CESIUM-137 BY DECAPOD CRUSTACEA
A comparative study was made of the accumulation and loss of Cs/sup 137/ in relation to K metabolism in the lobster Homarus vulgaris, common prawn Palaemon serratus, and freshwater crayfish Astacus (Austropotamobius pallipes pallipes). In unfed crustacea Cs/sup 137/ taken up and lost far more slowly than K/sup 42/. Although all the inactive K in the crustacea can be exchanged with K/ sup 42/, higher whole-animal concentration factors are reached for Cs/sup 137/ (about 8 for lobsters and 25 for prawns). In crayfish in 0.1% sea water, Cs/sup 137/ is not concentrated to the same extent as K by whole animals (50-200 for Cs/sup 137/ against about 4500 for K). Crayfish selectively excrete Cs/sup 137/ in the urine relative to K at a lower concentration than in the plasma. In the accumulation of Cs/sup 137/ by all species, muscle is the principal limiting factor, but with K/sup 42/ the body surface becomes more limiting. Experiments on the absorption of Cs/sup 137/ from food in prawns and freshwater crayfish were also carried out. The excretory organs are important in the metabolism of Cs/sup 137/ in lobsters and prawns; at equilibrium they account for about 30% of Cs/sup 137/ outflux. On the other hand, they account for only about 1% of K/sup 42/ outflux. In the crayfish, the excretory organs appear to be possibly more important in K metabolism. Generally, Cs/sup 137/ behaves similarly to K. More important differences are the accumulation of Cs/sup 137/ by prawn blood while K is excluded and the apparent secretion of the isotope into the urine of lobsters and to some extent prawns, (P.C.H.)
- Research Organization:
- Plymouth Lab., Eng.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-013937
- OSTI ID:
- 4750194
- Journal Information:
- J. Marine Biol. Assoc. U.K., Journal Name: J. Marine Biol. Assoc. U.K. Vol. Vol: 42
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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