EXTREME NH3 TOLERANCE IN FISH: A HYPERAMMONEMIA MODEL

这个项目的具体目标是了解蟾鱼能够耐受极端浓度氨的机制。为此，我将确定15NH4C1在海湾蟾鱼O.beta中的代谢命运。众所周知，这种鱼可以承受毫摩尔浓度的氨，而哺乳动物只能承受微摩尔浓度的氨。通过对海湾蟾鱼氨代谢机制的研究，可以建立一个对氨的解毒和耐受性进行一般性研究的模型。使用这一模型，可以开发出治疗人类高氨血症的方法，这可能是由许多因素引起的，包括接触污染物。在这项工作中，将分离氨代谢产生的产物。然后使用同位素比质谱仪测定每种产品中的15N水平。此外，还将确定这些产品在各个器官中的位置。

The specific goal of this project is to understand the mechanisms by which toadfish are able to tolerate extreme concentrations of ammonia. To this end, I will determine the metabolic fate of 15NH4C1 in the gulf toadfish, O. beta. This species of fish is known to withstand millimolar amounts of ammonia, whereas mammals can only withstand micromolar ammonia concentrations. By studying the mechanism of ammonia metabolism in the gulf toadfish, a model can be developed to understand ammonia detoxification and tolerance in general. Using this model, treatments may be developed for hyperammonemia in humans, which may be caused by a number of factors, including exposure to pollutants. In this work, the products generated by ammonia metabolism will be isolated. The levels of 15N in each product will then be determined using isotope ratio mass spectrometry. In addition, to location of these products in various organs will also be determined.