H. Standal et al., EFFECTS OF ACUTE IRON OVERLOAD ON ATLANTIC SALMON (SALMO-SALAR) AND RAINBOW-TROUT (ONCORHYNCHUS-MYKISS), Biological trace element research, 59(1-3), 1997, pp. 13-22
Distribution of radioiron to various tissues after intraperitoneal inj
ections was examined in Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout. Liver and s
pleen were found to be the major iron storage tissues. Injections of 1
or 5 mg iron as ferric ammonium citrate led to a fall in hemoglobin l
evels in both species after 2 d. Hemoglobin levels returned to normal
levels in rainbow trout after 8 d, but Atlantic salmon had not recover
ed, and Hb levels fell below 3 g/100 mL. In both species, the fall in
Hb was associated with a raise in iron levels in spleen and liver, sug
gesting damage to erythrocytes. Atlantic salmon liver ferritin showed
a two-to threefold increase, while rainbow trout showed a sixfold incr
ease, and a more rapid response. The toxic effect of iron in fish appe
ars to be different from the effect in other vertebrates.