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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #90491
Title: PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES IN CHANNEL CATFISH ASSOCIATED WITH EXPOSURE TO COPPERSULFATE

Author
item Griffin, Billy
item DAVIS, KENNETH - UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS
item SCHLENK, DANIEL - UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
item Hobbs, Melissa
item GRIPPO, RICHARD - AR STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: World Aquaculture Society Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/16/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Copper sulfate has been used for many decades to control ectoparasites of cultured fish. While copper accumulates primarily in gill and liver tissue during exposure to copper sulfate, copper concentrations in edible portions of the fish do not change. Exposure to waterborne copper has been reported to lead to physiological changes in stress-related parameters in trout and tilapia, but little is known about the physiological response of channel catfish to waterborne copper sulfate. Channel catfish were exposed to copper sulfate at the rate employed in aquaculture. Samples of tissue, blood, and water were taken during and after 24 h exposure and measurements made of plasma chlorides, plasma glucose, plasma cortisol, plasma aspartate aminotransferase, liver copper content, liver fructose-1, 6-diphosphatase content, liver metallothionein expression, and sodium ion flux. Significant changes were measured in plasma chlorides, glucose, and cortisol (see figures), but not in aspartate aminotransferase. Net sodium loss was linear in both exposed and control catfish, with exposure leading to elevated loss. Copper concentrations in liver and gill increased which lead to changes in metallothionein expression but there are no change in liver fructose-1, 6-diphosphatase. All physiological parameters measured had returned to pre-exposure to copper sulfate are quickly resolved in channel catfish during recovery, unlike other heavy metals that can, with shourt exposure, induce chronic changes in physiological stress indicators.