Endocrine and metabolic dysfunction in yellow perch, Perca flavescens, exposed to organic contaminants and heavy metals in the ST. Lawrence river

Abstract

The endocrine and biochemical responses to the acute stress of capture and handling were investigated in sexually mature and in immature male and female yellow perch, Perca flavescens, from a site contaminated by organic contaminants (PAHs and PCBs) and heavy metals (Hg, Cd, As, and Zn) and from a reference site in the St. Lawrence River. Following a standardized capture and handling stress, fish from the contaminated site did not exhibit the expected physiological stress response observed in fish from the reference site. Blood Cortisol and thyroxine levels were lower, and liver glycogen stores were greater in mature males and females, as well as in the immature fish from the contaminated site, compared to the reference site. Fish from the contaminated site also had smaller gonads and lower condition factor. The impaired ability to elevate blood Cortisol in response to an acute stress may be used as a biomarker of toxic stress in health assessment of feral fish from polluted environments.

Subcellular Distribution of Cadmium and Nickel in Chronically Exposed Wild Fish: Inferences Regarding Metal Detoxification Strategies and Implications for Setting Water Quality Guidelines for Dissolved Metals

“…Abundant and widely distributed across North America, this species does not travel over long distances and therefore its metal body burden tends to represent local sources (Aalto and Newsome 1990;Hontela et al 1995).…”

Toxicological effects of clofibric acid and diclofenac on plasma thyroid hormones of an Indian major carp, Cirrhinus mrigala during short and long-term exposures

“…Disruption of thyroid function by chemicals may affect the maintenance of a normal physiological status in vertebrates (Schnitzler et al, 2011). The previous literature indicates that the alterations of THs (TSH, T 4 and T 3 ) levels may be a result of a variety of mechanisms, such as tissue-specific alternations and THs related genes expressions (Li et al, 2009), changes in thyroid status and alterations in leasing its hormones (Oliveira et al, 2008), in process of biosynthesis and secretion of T 4 and T 3 (Capen, 1997), changes in hypothalamus or in pituitary status (Alkindi et al, 1996) and changes in hormone catabolism and clearance rates (Saito et al, 1991;Hontela et al, 1995). Moreover, these alterations may also depend upon the different exposure regime (Yu et al, 2011).…”

Physiological stress response of Mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) and White Sucker (Catostomus commersoni) sampled along a gradient of temperature and agrichemicals in the Oldman River, Alberta

“…Plasma cortisol was determined with diagnostic kits (MP Biomedicals Diagnostics Division 07-221102); assay characteristics and accuracy were verified, as described previously (Hontela et al 1995). Plasma glucose was determined with a colorimetric assay using the GOD-PAP reagent (Roche 1929526) at 512 nm.…”