The accumulation, synthetic capacity and intertissue distribution of trimethylamine oxide in deep-sea fish and the cold adapted smelt (Osmerus mordax)

Treberg, Jason R. (2002) The accumulation, synthetic capacity and intertissue distribution of trimethylamine oxide in deep-sea fish and the cold adapted smelt (Osmerus mordax). Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) is common to most marine fishes; however, the role TMAO plays in the physiology of marine fish is not well understood. I have used two distinct TMAO accumulating fish 'types', deep-sea fish and smelt (Osmerus mordax), to compare differences in the levels, intertissue distribution and capacity for synthesis of TMAO in fish with high and low levels of TMAO. Several consistencies were found. The intertissue distribution of TMAO showed a trend of locomotory muscle > heart > liverliver ≅ kidney ≅ brain. Levels of trimethylamine oxidase, the enzyme required for TMAO synthesis, did not correlate with higher tissue TMAO content indicating that enhanced endogenous synthetic capacity is not responsible for elevated TMAO content. Finally, evidence for the active uptake of TMAO into striated muscle and the regulation of TMAO concentration in white muscle is presented, possibly due to some role TMAO plays in muscle function.

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