Tissue indicators of element status in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) post-smolts: effect of fasting

Two groups of Atlantic salmon post-smolts previously fed diets either unsupplemented or supplemented with Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn were fasted for 6 weeks in order to study the reliability of tissue indicators of element status during fasting. The fish were weighed at 2-week intervals and samples of whole fish liver, vertebrae, serum and eyes were taken for analyses of elements by atomic absorption spectrometry.
Body weight, per cent dry matter, condition factor and haematocrit values decreased during the fasting period. The concentration of elements in whole body remained constant, indicating that whole body is a stable indicator of element status during fasting. Other tissues seemed to be more sensitive (i.e. hepatic Fe concentration and vertebrae Zn and Mn concentrations). The serum concentrations of the elements generally decreased during fasting, especially for P and Zn. Element concentrations in whole body and most tissues during fasting were generally more dependent upon initial element status than on the fasting itself.
Care should be taken in drawing conclusions about the element status of fish based solely upon the examination of serum concentrations, and more than one tissue indicator should be used in the establishment of the element status of fish.