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Physiological and genetic responses of European eel ( Anguilla anguilla L.) to short‐term chromium or copper exposure—Influence of preexposure to a PAH‐like compound
Author(s) -
Teles M.,
Pacheco M.,
Santos M. A.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
environmental toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1522-7278
pISSN - 1520-4081
DOI - 10.1002/tox.20082
Subject(s) - chemistry , genotoxicity , endocrinology , medicine , triiodothyronine , hormone , chromium , ecotoxicology , toxicity , copper , toxicokinetics , environmental chemistry , zoology , biology , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Anguilla anguilla L. (European eel) was exposed for 24 h to chromium (Cr—100 μM and 1 mM) or copper (Cu—1 and 2.5 μM), with or without a 24‐h preexposure to β‐naphthoflavone (BNF—2.7 μM), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)–like compound, simulating sequential exposure to PAHs and heavy metals. Plasma cortisol, thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (T3), and free thyroxine (T4) were determined in order to assess the effects on endocrine function. Plasma glucose and lactate also were measured. The frequency of erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities (ENA) was scored as a genotoxicity indicator. Plasma T4 decreased in eels when exposed to Cr only. The interference of BNF preexposure on Cr effects was observed as a significant plasma glucose increase. Single exposures to Cu elevated plasma cortisol and glucose (2.5 μM), as well as plasma lactate (1 μM), whereas a T4 decrease was found for both concentrations. BNF preexposure prevented plasma cortisol and lactate increases; however, a greater T4 decrease was observed in eels exposed to 2.5 μM Cu. Moreover, this pretreatment was crucial for genotoxicity expression because only BNF+2.5 μM Cu–exposed fish exhibited significant ENA induction. In general, plasma T4 was the most affected hormone, as it responded to all Cr and Cu exposure conditions. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 20: 92–99, 2005.