Hight concentrations of methemoglobin in five species of temperate marine teleosts

Abstract Blood samples from five species of marine teleosts were assayed for methemoglobin (metHb) levels during winter and summer acclimatization. There was at least 7% total hemoglobin in the met‐form in all species, and as high as 27% in one species, the Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua ). There was s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Experimental Zoology
Main Authors: Graham, Mark S., Fletcher, Garth L.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1986
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jez.1402390117
https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fjez.1402390117
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jez.1402390117
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Summary:Abstract Blood samples from five species of marine teleosts were assayed for methemoglobin (metHb) levels during winter and summer acclimatization. There was at least 7% total hemoglobin in the met‐form in all species, and as high as 27% in one species, the Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua ). There was significant seasonal variation in metHb levels for three of the five species, the highest values occurring during the winter months; cunners ( Tautogolabrus adspersus ) 15.6% in winter and 10.1% in the summer, shorthorn sculpin ( Myoxocephalus scorpius ) 20.0% in the winter and 8.19% in the summer, longhorn sculpin ( Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus ) 17.3–21.6% in the winter and 8.12% in the summer. The winter flounder ( Pseudopleuronectes americanus ) and the Atlantic cod maintained metHb concentrations constant throughout the year: 13% and 27%, respectively. There does not appear to be any relationship between the activity of a fish and the level of metHb in its blood.