RENAL FUNCTION IN MARINE TELEOSTS

II. THE NITROGENOUS CONSTITUENTS OF THE URINE OF SCULPIN AND FLOUNDER, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO TRIMETHYLAMINE OXIDE

¹ From the Department of Anatomy, Harvard Medical School, and Department of Biochemistry, College of Physicians and Surgeons

It has been shown that approximately half of the total nitrogen in the urine of the sculpin (Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus) and the flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) cannot be accounted for by the ordinary nitrogenous constituents. Trimethylamine oxide is present, and accounts for a large portion of this unknown fraction in the sculpin, but is either absent or present in only very small quantities in the urine of the flounder. Brief supplemental studies demonstrated the presence of trimethylamine oxide, in considerable amount, in the urine of the daddy sculpin (M. scorpius) and confirmed its presence in the urine of the goosefish (Lophius piscatorius). In the discussion the literature concerning the occurrence and significance of trimethylamine oxide and trimethylamine is reviewed.