The response of the haemoglobin system of fed and starved rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, to bleeding

Abstract

Seven days after a 15% reduction in blood volume by bleeding, the haemoglobin system of rainbow trout showed a modification in relative abundance of two of the four haemoglobins present in the haemolyate. The least anodic non‐Root effect haemoglobin increased proportionally whereas the major component, with its Root effect properties, showed a decline. A total of 30 days of starvation did not influence the relative proportions of the fractions. However, bleeding of these starved S. gairdneri provoked a shift similar to that of fed trout. In this case, however, both non‐Root haemoglobins, and the minor Root fraction, increased proportionally. The major Root fraction declined. The response of the starved group was more acute since all four components were significantly affected in contrast to two fractions in fed animals.