The behavior of selenium and mercury in cultured fish-VII

The influence of the fasting upon the mercury and selenium distribution

Abstract

Both mercury and selenium distribution in the ordinary muscle of Japanese scad (Decapterus maruadsi), preserved under a fasting environment, was investigated in order to clarify the influence of fasting, which is generally performed before shipment in culture facilities, upon the metabolism of some trace components in the fish body. As a result, it is shown that both levels of mercury and selenium (especially low oxidation state of selenium) gradually decreased with the decrease of body weight during the fasting and consequently there was a positive correlation (ro = 0.99) between both levels. These findings suggested that both elements may also be excreted as a detoxified substance such as mercuric selenide by means of fasting until shipment.