Methyl mercury toxicokinetics in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) after intravascular administration

Journal Article · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620160518· OSTI ID:514538

Schultz, I R; Newman, M C ^[1]

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1. Savannah River Ecology Lab., Aiken, SC (United States)

The authors compared the differences in the distribution and elimination of Ch{sub 3}Hg after intraarterial injection and serial blood removal in catfish and bass of similar body size under consistent water quality conditions. The blood and plasma concentration-time profiles of individual fish were analyzed using a three-compartment, clearance-volume model. The plasma protein binding of CH{sub 3}Hg was determined by ultrafiltration and the binding affinity ({rho}) of CH{sub 3}Hg for red blood cells (RBCs) was also calculated. Toxicokinetic analysis of the plasma concentration-time profiles provided the following values: apparent volume of distribution at steady state (V{sub ss}) = 30 {+-} 14 ml/g (catfish), 6.2 {+-} 2 ml/g (bass); total body clearance (Cl{sub b}) = 0.026 {+-} 0.011 ml/h/g (catfish), 0.0057 {+-} 0.001 ml/h/g (bass). The values of V{sub ss} and Cl{sub b} estimated from the blood concentration-time profiles in catfish and bass were fivefold lower. The elimination half-life from blood and plasma was between 814 and 1670 h and was not statistically different between species or reference fluid. The AUC{sub 0{yields}x} for blood was over three times higher than plasma, due to the binding of CH{sub 3}Hg to RBCs. The unbound fraction of CH{sub 3}Hg in bass plasma was 14-fold lower and the {rho} for RBCs was 20 times greater than catfish. The decreased binding to plasma and RBCs in catfish is consistent with the increased extravascular distribution and clearance capacity of CH{sub 3}Hg in catfish because a larger fraction of the CH{sub 3}Hg in blood is available to distribute outside the vascular system.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 514538
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 16; ISSN ETOCDK; ISSN 0730-7268
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BIOLOGICAL MARKERS
FISHES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METABOLISM
METHYLMERCURY
TOXICITY
WATER POLLUTION