Immunomodulation by heavy metals tested individually or in mixtures in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed in vivo

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1999 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1897/1551-5028(1999)018<1492:IBHMTI>2.3.CO;2· OSTI ID:20013187

Sanchez-Dardon, J; Voccia, I; Hontela, A; Chilmonczyk, S; Dunier, M; Boermans, H; Blakley, B; Fournier, M

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of heavy metals, at environmentally relevant concentrations, on the immune response of rainbow trout. Trout were exposed for 30 d to cadmium chloride (CdCl{sub 2}), mercuric chloride (HgCl{sub 2}), or zinc chloride (ZnCl{sub 2}) either individually or in combinations: CdCl{sub 2}/HgCl{sub 2}, CdCl{sub 2}/ZnCl{sub 2}, HgCl{sub 2}/ZnCl{sub 2}, or CdCl{sub 2}/HgCl{sub 2}/ZnCl{sub 2}. Following the 30-d exposure, parameters of the nonspecific cellular immune response (phagocytosis, respiratory burst, and lymphoblastic proliferation) and of the nonspecific humoral immune response (lysozyme activity and the level of immunoglobulin) were measured. The results obtained indicate that individually, all three metals induce significant immunomodulations. However, the toxicity of mercury or cadmium is significantly reduced in fish simultaneously exposed to zinc, indicating that a protection is afforded by zinc against cadmium- and mercury-induced immunotoxicity.

• Research Organization: Univ. du Quebec a Montreal (CA)
• OSTI ID: 20013187
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Vol. 18, Issue 7; Other Information: PBD: Jul 1999; ISSN 0730-7268
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
WATER POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
CADMIUM
MERCURY
ZINC
BIOASSAY
IMMUNE REACTIONS
TROUT