Abstract
Exposure to elevated waterborne silver as AgNO3 (4.07 μM=448 μg 1-1) in seawater resulted in osmoregulatory disturbance in the lemon sole (Parophrys vetulus). The main effects were increased plasma Na+ and Cl- concentrations which translated into increased plasma osmolality. Plasma Mg2+ levels were also slightly increased after 96 h exposure. Using radioisotopic flux measurements, a 50% reduction in branchial unidirectional Na+ extrusion was observed after 48 h silver exposure. By applying an intestinal perfusion approach, we were able to separate and thus quantify the intestinal contribution to the observed silver-induced physiological disturbance and internal silver accumulation. This analysis revealed that the intestinal contribution to silver-induced ionoregulatory toxicity was as high as 50-60%. In marked contrast, internal silver accumulation (in liver and kidney) was found to be derived exclusively from uptake across the gills. Drinking of silver-contaminated seawater resulted in substantial silver accumulation in the intestinal tissue (but apparently not silver uptake across the intestine), which probably explains the intestinal contribution to silver-induced physiological disturbance.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 585-594 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Comparative Physiology - B Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology |
Volume | 171 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 22 2001 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Branchial toxic response
- Intestinal toxic response
- Marine teleost
- Silver toxicity
- Silver uptake
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Animal Science and Zoology
- Environmental Science(all)
- Physiology
- Physiology (medical)