THE UPTAKE AND UTILIZATION OF PHOSPHATE IONS FROM SEA WATER BY THE AMERICAN OYSTER, CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA (GMEL.)

Abstract

In studies using H3PO4 labelled with P32, oysters were found to absorb PO4 ions directly from sea water, principally through the gills. Radioautographs prepared from quick-frozen sections showed no selective concentrations of the labelled P by any tissue during the first 24 hours after uptake. Comparison of the amount of P absorbed with the amount lost through excretion shows that the oyster may obtain significant amounts of P from the PO4 in sea water. A rapid method for preparing radioautographs of gross sections without loss of soluble isotopes is described.