Effect of cadmium and zinc on intestinal absorption of xylose and tryptophan in the fresh water teleost fish, Heteropneustesfossilis

The effect of cadmium and of zinc on the rate of uptake of a pentose sugar xylose and an aminoacid tryptophan by the intestine of a teleost fish, $\text{Heteropneustes}$$\text{fossilis}$ was studied under two experimental conditions. In the first, four concentrations of cadmium or zinc (1.0 mM, 0.1 mM, 0.01 mM and 0.001 mM) mixed with the nutrient solution were filled in the intestinal sacs, and the rate of absorption was recorded after 1 h at 23°C. In the second experiment fish were exposed by bath to a sublethal concentration of cadmium (0.26 mg/1) or zinc (4 mg/1) for 15 and 30 days and the rate of absorption of the two nutrients was measured. The activity of intestinal Na⁺, K⁺ activated adenosine triphosphatase was also assayed. The two heavy metals at all the four concentrations decreased the rate of intestinal transport of nutrients. Increase in the concentration of each of the heavy metals decreased the uptake of nutrients, but the decreases were not linear. The rate of intestinal absorption of the two nutrients was also reduced by exposure of fish to the heavy metals $\text{in}$$\text{vivo}$. The activity of Na⁺, K⁺ ATPase decreased $\text{in}$$\text{vitro}$ with all four concentrations of cadmium and zinc and was diminished in fish exposed for 15 and 30 days. Of the two heavy metals, cadmium was more effective in reducing the rate of transport of xylose and tryptophan.