Changes in the lipid fraction of eel (Anguilla anguilla) gills after ionizing irradiation and a shift from fresh to sea water

Incorporation pattern of 32P-phosphate and 14C-acetate into gill lipids with the treatment of Actinomycin D after irradiation and its change due to environmental salinity were studied. Eels (Anguilla Anguilla) were irradiated with x-rays (1000 R). Then Actinomycin D was injected (0.05 mg/fish) a few hours before starting the incubation for 2 days. Labeled compounds, 32P-phosphate and 14C-acetate, were added to the water in the incubation tanks to investigate the incorporation behavior. In the case of 32P-phosphate the treatment with Actinomycin D abolished the effect of irradiation, i.e. incorporation into gill membrane lecithin within 3 days in fresh water, but not in sea water. The incorporation patterns in fresh water was generally changes to be similar to that in sea water, which was effected by environmental salinities and temperatures. In the case of 14C-acetate the incorporation into gill membrane triglycerides and wax esters was also inhibited by Actinomycin D at 60C and 260C in sea water and fresh water, respectively. (Tsunoda, M.)