Concentration of Some Heavy Metals in Tissues of Stellate Sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) in the South Caspian Sea

The concentration of five metals, including Pb, Cu, Cd, Ni and V, in the blood serum and tissues of Stellate sturgeon was evaluated in spring and autumn during 2001-2, using Shimatsu AA 670 G Flameless and Shimatsu AA G70 Flame, according to AOAC, 1990. The specimens were caught in two important sturgeon fishery zones located in Guilan and Golestan provinces in the Southern Caspian Sea. Concentrations of the tested elements followed the sequence Cu>Pb>Cd>Ni,V in tissues, as well as Cu>Ni>Pb>V>Cd in serum. There were significant differences in the levels of these elements in the blood serum and tissues of the Stellate sturgeon (P<0.05). In this study, the relationship between the concentration of the elements and biological characteristics has been examined. The significant length- and weightdependent relationships were observed for Cd in blood serum. Only in the case of Pb in the liver were age related differences found. Only in the case of Ni in blood serum could significant differences between two selected sampling areas be detected. To our knowledge, this study provides the first extensive data of elemental accumulation in serum, liver and gill of Sturgeons of the Southern Caspian Sea.