Abstract
The common carp can tolerate extremely low oxygen levels. These fish store zinc in a specific zinc-binding protein presented in digestive tract tissues, and under low oxygen, the stored zinc is released and used as a signal to stimulate erythropoiesis (red blood cell formation). To determine whether the environmental supply of zinc to other fish species can serve as a signal to induce erythropoiesis as in the common carp, head kidney cells of four different fish species were cultured with supplemental ZnCl2. Zinc stimulated approximately a three-fold increase in immature red blood cells (RBCs) in one day. The stimulation of erythropoiesis by zinc was dose-dependent. ZnSO4 solution was injected into an experimental blood loss tilapia model. Blood analysis and microscopic observation of the blood cells indicated that, in vivo, the presence of additional zinc induced erythropoiesis in the bled tilapia. In the fish species studied, zinc could be used as a signal to stimulate erythropoiesis both in vitro and in vivo. The present report suggests a possible approach for the induction of red blood cell formation in animals through the supply of a certain level of zinc through either diet or injection.
Highlights
In humans and other mammals, erythropoiesis, the process of red blood cell production, occurs in the bone marrow; in fish, the head kidney is the main erythropoietic organ [1]
It is of great interest to determine whether the supply of additional zinc to other fish species from the environment can serve as a signal to induce erythropoiesis as in the common carp
These results demonstrate that zinc stimulated the growth of the fraction 1 cells in all four fish species in one day, with an approximately three-fold increase in the proliferation of new immature red blood cells (RBCs)
Summary
In humans and other mammals, erythropoiesis, the process of red blood cell production, occurs in the bone marrow; in fish, the head kidney is the main erythropoietic organ [1]. Stimulation of erythropoiesis in common carp by zinc occurs via the high concentration of zinc stored in a specific 43 kDa zinc-binding protein present in the digestive tract tissue of the common carp [10] When needed, such as under conditions of anoxia, the zinc in the 43-kDa zinc-binding protein is released [11] and used as a signal to stimulate the formation of new red blood cells (RBCs) in the head kidney of the common carp [1,9]. The effects of supplementation of ZnCl2 to cultures of the head kidney cells of four fish species were determined: (1) crucian carp, Carassius carassius; (2) grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella; (3) silver carp, Aristichthys nobilis; and (4) tilapia, Oreochromis aureus In addition to this in vitro study, ZnSO4 solution was injected into an experimental blood loss tilapia model to determine whether zinc serves as a signal to stimulate erythropoiesis in fish in vivo. Our results indicated that zinc could be used as a signal to induce RBC formation in fish both in vitro and in vivo
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