The effect of water borne nickel on iron metabolism and heme biosynthesis in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Nickel is an essential element for all living organisms such as microorganisms, plants and animals. When nickel concentration exceeds the necessary concentration, could be toxic, and likewise causes adverse effects in living organisms. In this study, following determining nickel LC50-96h for common carp (Cyprinus carpio), nickel sub-lethal treatments including 0 (control), 0.055, 0.275, 0.572, 1.687, and 2.909 mg l-1 was considered over a period of 30 days. The results showed that there was no significant change in hematological indices due to exposure to nickel in common carp. In the presence of nickel, the MCHC showed a significant (P<0.05) decrease compared to the control. While nickel caused a significant (P<0.05) reduction in serum iron and transferrin in treatments of 1.687 and 2.909 mg l-1, transferrin saturation, total iron binding capacity of transferrin, ceruloplasmin significantly decreased (P<0.05) following nickel exposures. The results show that despite the lack of negative effects of nickel on blood indices, this element in the used amounts caused adverse effects on iron metabolism as one of the major components in heme biosynthesis.