Origin of iron in sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, tissues during embryogenesis and early larval life
Iron (Fe) concentration was measured in unfertilized eggs, embryos, prolarvae, and young larvae (up to day 56) of sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) raised in two substrates to determine (i) the importance of maternal transfer to Fe accumulation in sea lampreys and (ii) the influence of substrate on Fe uptake in young larvae. Unfertilized eggs contained about 35 ng of Fe, supporting the maternal transfer hypothesis. There were no significant changes in Fe concentration in developing embryos and prolarvae after hatching. Young larvae rapidly accumulated Fe from their burrowing substrate and the amount accumulated depended on the amount of Fe in the substrate. Since this rapid accumulation coincides with the beginning of exogenous feeding, as well as burrowing, environmental sources of Fe appear to be important contributors to Fe body burdens in larval sea lampreys.