Title: Assessment of physiological effects of sublethal cadmium on Cyprinus carpio

Authors: Bettina Lorena Eissa; Natalia Alejandra Ossana; Alfredo Salibián; Lucrecia Ferrari

Addresses: Applied Ecophysiology Program (PRODEA), Institute of Ecology and Sustainable Development (INEDES), UNLu-CONICET and Department of Basic Sciences, National University of Lujan, P.O. Box 221, (B6700ZBA), Luján, Argentina ' Applied Ecophysiology Program (PRODEA), Institute of Ecology and Sustainable Development (INEDES), UNLu-CONICET and Department of Basic Sciences, National University of Lujan, P.O. Box 221, (B6700ZBA), Luján, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, (C1425FQB), Buenos Aires, Argentina ' Applied Ecophysiology Program (PRODEA), Institute of Ecology and Sustainable Development (INEDES), UNLu-CONICET and Department of Basic Sciences, National University of Lujan, P.O. Box 221, (B6700ZBA), Luján, Argentina ' Applied Ecophysiology Program (PRODEA), Institute of Ecology and Sustainable Development (INEDES), UNLu-CONICET and Department of Basic Sciences, National University of Lujan, P.O. Box 221, (B6700ZBA), Luján, Argentina; Scientific Research Commission (CIC), La Plata, Argentina

Abstract: The effects of sublethal and short-term exposure to Cd were assessed with the purpose of studying the energy metabolism parameters in young Cyprinus carpio under laboratory conditions. The fish were exposed to Cd solutions (0.20 mg Cd. L-1) over a two-week term. The assayed concentration was environmentally realistic since it was frequently found in most highly polluted peri-urban water bodies in Argentina. No mortality was recorded among the animals during the experiments. The relationships between assimilation efficiency (U), oxygen consumption as a measure of specific metabolic rate (SMR) and ammonium excretion (AE) were determined. After exposure to Cd, a significant correlation was found between SMR and AE. It was concluded that under the assayed conditions the metal caused alterations in energy-related homeostasis of fish. Most of the responses may be interpreted as indicative of adaptations to compensate for increased energy requirements due to the physiological impairments caused by Cd.

Keywords: Cyprinus carpio; cadmium; assimilation efficiency; oxygen consumption; SMR; specific metabolic rate; ammonium excretion; surface response.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2017.083973

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2017 Vol.8 No.2, pp.139 - 149

Received: 04 Jul 2015
Accepted: 13 Nov 2015

Published online: 29 Apr 2017 *

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