THE OXIDATION-STATE AND ITS DISTRIBUTION OF SELENIUM IN THE BLOOD OF CULTURED YELLOW-TAIL SERIORA-QUINQUERADIATA

The oxidation state and its distribution of selenium in twelve blood s pecimens of cultured yellow tail Seriora quinqueradiata are presented in relation to the distribution of mercury and the glutathione peroxid ase activity. The concentration {Se(-II, O, IV)} of the low oxidation state of selenium correlated positively with total selenium concentrat ion (T-Se), suggesting that organic selenium, selenide and selenite we re predominant in the blood. Total mercury concentration (T-Hg) in the blood was extremely low. Glutathione peroxidase activity (GSH-P-x) di d not correlate significantly with Se(-II, O, IV) and (T-Hg), respecti vely, while the activity correlated negatively with fork length of yel low tails. These findings suggest that selenium in the blood will main ly exist as protein-containing selenohydryl groups with a trace amount of mercury and glutathione peroxidase.