Basic Sciences Department, Applied Ecophysiology Program and Institute of Ecology and Sustainable Development (PRODEA-INEDES), National University of Lujan (UNLu), Lujan, Argentina.
Fish Physiol Biochem. 2011 Dec;37(4):853-62. doi: 10.1007/s10695-011-9483-2. Epub 2011 Apr 7.
Stress in fish can be assessed by means of a bioenergetic approach, based on the evaluation of changes in their physiological parameters. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of sublethal water-borne cadmium (Cd) on the energetic balance of juvenile Cyprinus carpio under laboratory conditions after a short-term exposure. Fish were exposed to a concentration of Cd (0.15 mg Cd l(-1)) for 2 weeks. This concentration is environmentally realistic since it is usually found, even at higher values, in heavily polluted periurban water bodies of Argentina. No mortality was recorded among the animals used in the experiments. Food intake, food assimilation and assimilation efficiency, fecal production, liver glycogen content, oxygen consumption, oxygen extraction efficiency, specific metabolic rate, ammonia excretion and ammonia quotient (AQ), condition factor, and liver somatic index were determined. The overall balance was expressed as the scope for growth (SFG). The morphological indices and the liver glycogen content of Cd-exposed fish showed no significant differences when compared to those of controls. There was a significant decrease in the food intake, fecal production, and food assimilation rates as well as in AQ; the SFG exhibited a highly significant decrease. The remaining parameters (assimilation efficiency, oxygen consumption, oxygen extraction efficiency, specific metabolic rate, and ammonia excretion) increased after the exposure to Cd. We concluded that the sub-chronic exposure of Cyprinus carpio to a sublethal concentration of Cd causes important alterations in the energy-related homeostasis of fish. Most of the responses are indicative of physiological adaptations to compensate an increased energy requirement due to the impairments caused by the metal.
鱼类的应激可以通过生物能量学方法进行评估，该方法基于其生理参数变化的评估。本研究的目的是确定在实验室条件下，亚致死浓度的水基镉（Cd）对短期暴露后的幼鲤（Cyprinus carpio）能量平衡的影响。鱼被暴露在 0.15 毫克 Cd l(-1)的 Cd 浓度下 2 周。该浓度在环境上是现实的，因为在阿根廷受污染的城市周边水体中，即使在更高的浓度下，通常也会发现该浓度。实验中使用的动物没有死亡记录。测定了摄食量、食物同化率和同化效率、粪便产量、肝糖原含量、耗氧量、氧提取效率、比代谢率、氨排泄和氨比（AQ）、条件因子和肝体指数。总体平衡表示为生长范围（SFG）。与对照组相比，Cd 暴露鱼的形态指数和肝糖原含量没有显著差异。摄食量、粪便产量和食物同化率以及 AQ 显著下降；SFG 显著下降。其余参数（同化效率、耗氧量、氧提取效率、比代谢率和氨排泄）在暴露于 Cd 后增加。我们得出结论，亚慢性暴露于亚致死浓度 Cd 会导致鲤鱼的能量相关内稳态发生重要变化。大多数反应表明，由于金属造成的损伤，鱼类会产生生理适应来补偿能量需求的增加。
