Metabolism of 60Co in mollusca

After mollusca were bred in 60Co-labeled sea water or were given 60Co-labeled feed for certain hours, their tissues including the liver were removed as experimental samples. 60Co metabolism was observed by the Sephadex gel filtration profile. A gel chromatogram of the liver in gastropoda showed a marked peak of 60Co on the high-molecular side. Although the peak was observed on both high- and low-molecular sides in pelecypoda, it was more marked on the high-molecular side than on the low-molecular side. In cephalopoda, the peak pattern was similar to that in the other mollusca, but the proportion of low-molecular components was comparatively large. The gel filtration profile of 60Co in various tissues of cephalopoda revealed the incorporation of 60Co into the high-molecular components in blood, three peaks in the kidneys, and the incorporation of 60Co into the low-molecular components in the branchial heart. The metabolism of 60Co was dependent upon the chemical form of Co in gastropoda, and organic 60Co was specifically observed in the high-molecular components. (Namekawa, K.)