Title: Corticosteroid Concentrations in Sockeye Salmon (<i>Oncorhynchus nerka</i>) Exposed to Low Concentrations of Copper
Abstract: Yearling sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) were exposed for 1–24 h to 10 −7 , 10 −6 , or 10 −5 molar cupric sulphate in freshwater aquaria. Plasma cortisol, cortisone, and "total" corticosteroid concentrations were measured by a competitive protein binding technique.Cortisol, cortisone and "total" corticosteroid levels were significantly higher than control concentrations after 1 h of exposure to 10 −5 or 10 −6 M copper. "Total" corticosteroid and cortisone concentrations were significantly higher than control concentrations after 2 and 4 h of exposure to 10 −7 M copper, respectively. Fish exposed to 10 −5 M copper died between 8 and 24 h.The data reflect a rapid corticosteroid stress response to lethal and sublethal concentrations of copper. The technique may be of use for rapid evaluation of effluents containing heavy metals, especially those containing a mixture of toxicants.
Publication Year: 1975
Publication Date: 1975-04-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 98
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