The Modes of Action of Toxic Agents III. Mercuric Chloride and N-Amylmercuric Chloride on Crustaceans

Abstract

Experiments have been carried out with ²⁰³Hg-labelled n-amylmercuric chloride (n-C₅H₁₁HgCl) and mercuric chloride (HgCl₂) to study the modes of action of these compounds as poisons to some crustaceans.Differences between the susceptibilities of Artemia salina and Elminius modestus to the poisons do not reflect differences between the quantities of these compounds which the animals can tolerate in their tissues, but are directly related to the rates at which the poisons are accumulated. Thus, experiments with either species have shown that Hg is taken up at approximately the same rate from equitoxic solutions of the two poisons; and the rates at which Hg is accumulated by the two species from equitoxic solutions of either poison are of the same order.Experiments with reduced glutathione have given results consistent with the view that most of the Hg taken up by either species penetrates into the tissues of the test animals and does not act simply by becoming attached to their surfaces.Direct evidence of the penetration of Hg compounds into a crustacean has been obtained from experiments with Leander serratus. Considerable amounts of Hg have been detected in the antennary glands.