Endocrine, osmoregulatory, respiratory and haematological parameters in flounder exposed to the water soluble fraction of crude oil

Abstract

Flounders Pleuronectes flesus with an implanted vascular catheter were exposed to a 50% dilution of the water soluble fraction (WSF) of Omani crude oil (c. 6 ppm total aromatic hydrocarbons) and serial blood samples taken to determine their endocrine status (cortisol, catecholamines and thyroid hormones) and the resultant and/or causal physiological (haematological, ionoregulatory and respiratory) disturbances. This resulted in a progressive increase in plasma cortisol concentrations from 3 h onwards (rising from 18 to 51 ng ml 1 after 48-h exposure), and increased plasma glucose concentrations indicating a generalized stress response. Plasma T 3 and T 4 concentrations of both control and WSF-exposed groups declined progressively over the experimental period; exposure to the WSF of crude oil further depressed plasma T 4 concentrations but not plasma T 3 concentrations relative to those of control fish. Plasma osmolality and sodium and chloride concentrations were stable in WSF-exposed fish, however, plasma potassium concentrations were increased significantly at the 24-and 48-h sampling points. The most profound physiological disturbance in WSF-exposed fish was a dramatic decline in blood oxygen content (CvO 2 ) (from 2·8 to 0·8 ml 100 ml 1 after 48-h exposure), which is likely to be the cause of the increased plasma noradrenaline concentrations from 3 h onwards. Increased noradrenaline is likely in turn to have been responsible for the significant increase in blood haematocrit and blood haemoglobin at the 3-h sampling point, although the dominant effect in the longer-term was a significant decline in both of these haematological parameters. 1996 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles

Physiological effects of gasoline on the freshwater fish Prochilodus lineatus(Characiformes: Prochilodontidae)

“…Hemolysis may impair the oxygen capture and gas exchange capacity of these animals, as well as interfere in the acid-base equilibrium (Bloom & Brandt, 2008). Similar findings have been reported for Prochilodus lineatus exposed to the water-soluble fraction of diesel oil (Simonato et al, 2008) and for flounder (Pleuronectes flesus) after exposure to the water-soluble fraction of crude oil (Alkindi et al, 1996). According to Duarte et al (2010), the hydrocarbons in petroleum seriously impair oxygen transport, since they are known to alter the permeability of erythrocytes with a strong hemolytic effect.…”

“…Changes in hematological parameters have already been found in fish exposed to different types of petroleum and derivatives (Davison et al, 1993;Alkindi et al, 1996;Duarte et al, 2010) but it is evident that the hematological responses may vary among species and different pollutants, and additional information such as ion concentrations and osmolarity are necessary to define a relationship between the pollutant and the variations observed.…”

Effects of Nigeria Ekete light crude oil on plasma electrolytes, packed cell volume (PCV) and lipids profile in wistar (Rattus norvegicus) rats

“…Different authors have observed that crude oil alters plasma constituents, including plasma enzymes, electrolytes and amino acids. Findings in this study contradicted the observation of Alkindi et al (1996), who showed that water soluble fraction of Omani crude oil did not affect plasma There was no significant difference between treated groups and control.…”

“…1974). Alkindi et al (1996), showed that water soluble fraction of Omani crude oil resulted in a progressive increase in plasma cortisol concentrations from 3 h onwards (rising from 18 to 51 ng ml −1 after 48-h exposure), increased plasma glucose concentration, did not affect plasma osmolality, sodium and chloride concentration but caused decrease in plasma potassium concentration in Flounders Pleuronectesflesus.…”

Biotransformation, Endocrine, and Genetic Responses of Anguilla anguilla L. to Petroleum Distillate Products and Environmentally Contaminated Waters

“…Values represent the means and SE (n"5/treatment). Statistically signi"cant di!erences between exposed "sh and control "sh are *P(0.05; **P(0.02; ***P(0.01; ****P(0.001. approach (Anderson et al, 1974;Alkindi et al, 1996;EHC, 1996). According to previous studies (Anderson et al, 1974;Dunlap and Beckman, 1988), these WSFs contain polar and low-molecular-mass compounds, namely, aromatic hydrocarbons included in two toxicologically relevant groups: BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene isomers) and small PAHs, in particular naphthalenes.…”