Elements in tissues and organs of an Antarctic fish, Champsocephalus gunnari

Elements in the tissues and organs of the Antarctic fish Champsocephalus gunnari were analyzed by PIXE. A comparison was made with a migratory fish bluefin tuna, Thunnus thunnus, and morphologically similar fish, brown barracuda, Sphyraena pinguis. High levels of Mn were found in the gills and liver of bluefin tuna in the range of 4-10 ppm, while in the Champsocephalus gunnari, Mn was highest in the muscle (70 ppm). Fe was found in the spleen, kidney and liver of the bluefin tuna at levels of 300, 890 and 680 ppm. In Champsocephalus gunnari, however, levels in these organs were 40-80 ppm. A particularly higher level of 302 ppm was found in the muscle. Cu was the highest in the gall-bladder of a bluefin tuna (66 ppm), while it was 13 ppm in the Champsocephalus gunnari but it was 52 ppm in the muscle. Mn, Fe and Cu were particulary high in the muscle of the Champsocephalus gunnari. These elements may assist in oxygen fixation and transportation through cutaneous respiration. (orig.)