Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letters to Editor
  • Published:

DDT inhibits Na+, K+, Mg2+-ATPase in the Intestinal Mucosae and Gills of Marine Teleosts

Abstract

SODIUM-potassium-activated, magnesium-dependent, adenosine triphosphatase (Na+, K+, Mg2+-ATPase) is widely accepted as an essential factor in sodium transport1, and observations on fish substantiate this view. There are concurrent increases, for example, of both Na+, K+, Mg2+-ATPase activity and osmoregulatory sodium transport2, in the intestinal mucosae3,4 and the gills3,5 of euryhaline teleosts during adaptation to seawater. Furthermore, the gills of stenohaline seawater teleosts, which actively secrete sodium, exhibit higher Na+, K+, Mg2+-ATPase activity than the gills of stenohaline freshwater teleosts, which do not actively secrete sodium3,5. Na+, K+, Mg2+-ATPase therefore seems to be important in maintaining tissue osmolarity well below that of seawater. It is disquieting to report therefore that Na+, K+, Mg2+-ATPase activity in the intestinal mucosae and gills of marine teleosts is inhibited by the organochlorine insecticide DDT. This observation may help to clarify the unexplained sensitivity of teleosts to DDT6.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Skou, J. C., Physiol. Rev., 45, 596 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Parry, G., Biol. Rev., 41, 392 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Jampol, L. M., and Epstein, F. H., Amer. J. Physiol, 218, 607 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Oide, M., Annot. Zool. Japon., 40, 130 (1967).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kamiya, M., and Utida, S., Comp. Biochem. Physiol., 31, 671 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. O'Brien, R. D., Insectìcides: Action and Metabolism (Academic Press, New York and London, 1967).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hulbert, E. M., J. Fish. Res. Board Canada, 25, 2609 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Colton, J. B., J. Fish. Res. Board Canada, 26, 2746 (1969).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Fiske, C. H., and SubbaRow, Y., J. Biol. Chem., 66, 375 (1925).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Layne, E., in Methods in Enzymology (edit. by Colowick, S. P., and Kaplan, N. O.) 3, 447 (Academic Press, New York, 1957).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  11. Butler, P. A., in Chemical Fallout (edit. by Miller, M. W., and Berg, G. G.), 205 (Thomas, Springfield, Illinois, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Adamson, R. H., Sullivan, J. B., and Rail, D. P., Bull. Mt. Desert Isl. Biol. Lab., 9, 2 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kamiya, M., and Utida, S., Comp. Biochem. Physiol., 26, 675 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Holden, A. V., Ann. Appl. Biol., 50, 467 (1962).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Allison, D., Kallman, B. J., Cope, O. B., and Van Valin, C. C., Science, 142, 958 (1963).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Warner, K., and Fenderson, O. C., J. Wildlife Management, 26, 86 (1962).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Duffy, J. R., and O'Connell, D., J. Fish. Res. Board Canada, 25, 189 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Bliss, C. I., Science, 79, 38 (1934).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

JANICKI, R., KINTER, W. DDT inhibits Na+, K+, Mg2+-ATPase in the Intestinal Mucosae and Gills of Marine Teleosts. Nature New Biology 233, 148–149 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio233148a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio233148a0

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing