Abstract
The purpose of the research was to study accumulation of mercury and selenium in muscles and liver of Russian and Persian sturgeons caught in the Caspian Sea. Analysis of the data revealed preferential accumulation of mercury and selenium in liver compared to muscle tissues of both species. The article shows that the degree of mercury accumulation in the liver and muscles of the Persian sturgeon was higher than of the Russian. Correlation analysis of data showed that mercury content in the sturgeon liver and muscles statistically significantly depended on age, length and weight of the fish. In the course of these studies there has been identified a direct correlation between selenium content in muscle tissue and body weight of fish. The results of the analysis indicate that the accumulation of mercury and selenium in Persian and Russian sturgeon species is stipulated by their physiological characteristics and properties of the chemical elements. Mercury concentration in liver and muscles of the tested species is little, which corresponds to the standards adopted in Russia. The level of selenium in the liver increases with the concentration of mercury in it, which confirms the defensive function of selenium against heavy metals.
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