Abstracts
The ability of carp to recover from nitrite-induced methaemoglobinaemia and disturbances in potassium balance and cell volume was studiedin vivo andin vitro. Nitrite accumulated to a plasma concentration of 3 mM during 2 days of nitrite exposure was eliminated from the plasma within 2–3 days in clean water. The nitrite-induced methaemoglobinaemia disappeared after 3 days of recovery. During nitrite exposure, K+ was lost from the red blood cells (RBCs) and from skeletal muscle tissue, which led to reduced cell volume and an extracellular hyperkalaemia. Extracellular [K+] rose less than predicted if lost K+ had remained in the extracellular space, suggesting further transport of K+ to the environment. The intracellular K+ and water content were restored after few days of recovery in clean water, but this was paralleled by development of an extracellular hypokalaemia. This shows that intracellular K+ balance was reestablished at the expense of the extracellular compartment, and supports that an overall K+ deficit resulted from K+ loss to the environment during nitrite exposure. Ventricle tissue differed from skeletal muscle and RBCs by not loosing K+ and by having increased sodium and water contents during nitrite exposure. These changes were corrected by recovery in nitrite-free water. In vitro addition of nitrite to blood with low O2 saturation induced metHb formation and RBC K+ efflux. Subsequent reduction of metHb to functional Hb was similar in blood with low and high O2 tension. A net re-uptake of K+ was observed only in RBCs with low O2 saturation and when metHb reached low values.
Similar content being viewed by others
References cited
Benesch, R.E., Benesch, R. and Yung, S. 1973. Equations for the spectrophotometric analysis of hemoglobin mixtures. Analyt. Biochem. 55: 245–248.
Eddy, F.B., Kunzlik, P.A. and Bath, R.N. 1983. Uptake and loss of nitrite from the blood of rainbow trout,Salmo gairdneri Richardson, and Atlantic salmon,Salmo salar L. in fresh water and in dilute sea water. J. Fish Biol. 23: 105–116.
Eddy, F.B. and Williams, E.M. 1987. Nitrite and freshwater fish. Chem. Ecol. 3: 1–38.
Heisler, N. 1984. Acid-base regulation in fishes.In Fish Physiology. Vol. XA, pp. 315–401. Edited by W.S. Hoar and D.J. Randall. Academic Press, New York.
Jensen, F.B. 1990a. Nitrite and red cell function in carp: control factors for nitrite entry, membrane potassium ion permeation, oxygen affinity and methaemoglobin formation. J. Exp. Biol. 152: 149–166.
Jensen, F.B. 1990b. Sublethal physiological changes in freshwater crayfish,Astacus astacus, exposed to nitrite: haemolymph and muscle tissue electrolyte status, and haemolymph acid-base balance and gas transport. Aquat. Toxicol. 18: 51–60.
Jensen, F.B. 1992. Influence of haemoglobin conformation, nitrite and eicosanoids on K+ transport across the carp red blood cell membrane. J. Exp. Biol. 171: 349–371.
Jensen, F.B. 1995. Uptake and effects of nitrite and nitrate in animals.In Nitrogen Metabolism and Excretion. pp. 289–303. Edited by P.J. Walsh and P. Wright. CRC Press, Boca Raton.
Jensen, F.B., Andersen, N.A. and Heisler, N. 1987. Effects of nitrite exposure on blood respiratory properties, acid-base status and electrolyte regulation in the carp (Cyprinus carpio). J. Comp. Physiol. B 157: 533–541.
Jensen, F.B. and Weber, R.E. 1985. Kinetics of the acclimational responses of tench to combined hypoxia and hypercapnia. I. Respiratory responses. J. Comp. Physiol. B 156: 197–203.
Margiocco, C., Arillo, A., Mensi, P. and Schenone, G. 1983. Nitrite bioaccumulation inSalmo gairdneri Rich. and hematological consequences. Aquat. Toxicol. 3: 261–270.
Moore, S. and Stein, W.H. 1948. Photometric ninhydrin method for use in the chromatography of amino acids. J. Biol. Chem. 176: 367–388.
Salama, A. and Nikinmaa, M. 1988. The adrenergic responses of carp (Cyprinus carpio) red cells: effects of PO 2 and pH. J. Exp. Biol. 136: 405–416.
Satchell, G.H. 1992. The venous system.In Fish Physiology. Vol. XII, pp. 141–183. Edited by W.S. Hoar and D.J. Randall. Academic Press, New York.
Shechter, H., Gruener, N. and Shuval, H.I. 1972. A micromethod for the determination of nitrite in blood. Anal. Chim. Acta. 60: 93–99.
Soivio, A., Nyholm, K. and Westman, K. 1975. A technique for repeated sampling of the blood of individual resting fish. J. Exp. Biol. 62: 207–217.
Stormer, J., Jensen, F.B. and Rankin, J.C. 1996. Uptake of nitrite, nitrate and bromide in rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss: effects on ionic balance. Can. J. Fish Aquat. Sci. (In press).
Williams, E.M., Glass, M.L. and Heisler, N. 1992. Blood oxygen tension and content in carp,Cyprinus carpio L., during hypoxia and methaemoglobinaemia. Aquacult. Fish Man. 23: 679–690.
Wood, C.M. 1988. Acid-base and ionic exchanges at gills and kidney after exhaustive exercise in the rainbow trout. J. Exp. Biol. 136: 461–481.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Knudsen, P.K., Jensen, F.B. Recovery from nitrite-induced methaemoglobinaemia and potassium balance disturbances in carp. Fish Physiol Biochem 16, 1–10 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004535
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004535