Alterations of Metabolic Enzymes in Australian Bass, Macquaria novemaculeata, After Exposure to Petroleum Hydrocarbons

Abstract

Australian bass Macquaria novemaculeata were exposed to the water-accommodated fraction of Bass Strait crude oil, dispersed crude oil, or burnt crude oil to assess sublethal effects of oil spill remediation techniques on fish. Fish were exposed to these treatments for 16 days either through the water column or by way of a pre-exposed diet of amphipod Allorchestes compressa. Fish gills, liver, and white muscle were sampled and cytochrome C oxidase (CCO) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities quantified. In all treatments containing fish exposed by way of the water column, aerobic activity increased in the gills, whereas a decrease of this enzymic activity was observed in the liver and white muscle. Exposures by way of the food pathway indicated similar trends. Anaerobic (LDH) activity increased in the gills, liver, and white muscle after waterborne exposures. Stimulation in anaerobic activity also occurred in the liver and white muscle of fish after exposure to contaminated food. CCO activity in the gills was the most sensitive biomarker when monitoring waterborne exposures to petroleum hydrocarbons. In the gills, the dispersed oil treatment resulted in the most pronounced biological response, suggesting that in the short term the use of dispersants on an oil slick might cause the most perturbations to fish metabolism.

Biomarkers in Nile Tilapia <i>Oreochromis niloticus niloticus</i> (Linnaeus, 1758) to Assess the Impacts of River Nile Pollution: Bioaccumulation, Biochemical and Tissues Biomarkers

“…Anaerobic capacity was most impacted in the tissues of fish collected from heavily polluted sites with the LDH activity in the tissues of fish from downstream river Nile higher than that of fish sampled from upstream river Nile. Liver and muscles of Nile tilapia seem to be able to react strongly to the presence of higher chemical pollution by increasing anaerobic capacity, possibly facilitating elimination of offending chemicals [44]. LDH activity in muscle was always higher than that in liver.…”

Comparative toxicity assessment of in situ burn residues to initial and dispersed heavy fuel oil using zebrafish embryos as test organisms

“…However, in general, a low acute toxicity of burn residue WAFs to marine invertebrate species has been observed (Faksness et al 2012). Besides invertebrate species, also different fish species have been exposed to WAFs from ISB experiments (Bender et al 2018;Cohen 2001;Cohen et al 2005). The studies mainly have found a low toxic potential (Cohen et al 2005).…”

“…Besides invertebrate species, also different fish species have been exposed to WAFs from ISB experiments (Bender et al 2018;Cohen 2001;Cohen et al 2005). The studies mainly have found a low toxic potential (Cohen et al 2005). However, also delayed effects after a recovery phase such as reproductive impact have been observed in fish that have been exposed to burn residues for a short period (Bender et al 2018).…”

“…Comparable with the present study, metabolic enzyme activities in juvenile fish exposed to initial, burned, and dispersed crude oil have been examined before (Cohen 2001;Cohen et al 2005Cohen et al , 2006. Deviating from the present results on chemically dispersed heavy fuel oil IFO 180, chemical treatment of the crude oil treatment in the aforementioned studies induced stronger EROD activities than initial or burned samples (Cohen et al 2005(Cohen et al , 2006. This discrepancy might be related to the dispersion capability, which is higher in crude oils compared with heavy fuel oils due to their lower viscosity (Fritt-Rasmussen et al 2018).…”

Effects of Exposure of Pink Shrimp, Farfantepenaeus duorarum, Larvae to Macondo Canyon 252 Crude Oil and the Corexit Dispersant

“…Feed sources provided during this study varied: nauplii and zoea were provided with algae, mysis with rotifers, and postlarvae with commercial pellets. Exposure of WAFs or CEWAFs through either the water column or exposed feed resulted in similar alterations of metabolic enzymes in fish [38]. The addition of small quantities of feed may have resulted in larvae being exposed to oil contaminants through both the water column via the gills and the digestive tract via ingestion.…”