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Heavy metals in fish scales: accumulation and effects on calcium regulation in the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus L

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:5335359

The scales of Fundulus heteroclitus were used to study the effects of heavy metals on fish calcification. Fish were subjected to laboratory zinc- or cadmium-exposure and scales analyzed for calcium, phosphorus, metals, and organic content. In regenerating scales, both metals caused reductions in scale calcium and phosphorus during the early stages of calcification. In later stages, phosphorus was elevated by cadmium. In calcium-45 uptake experiments metal-specific results were observed. Cd affected calcification indirectly by reducing Ca/sup 2 +/ uptake by the gills while Zn, acted directly at the site of calcification and was accumulated by the scales. Experiments with isolated gills in vitro using metabolic inhibitors suggested that initial Ca/sup 2 +/ uptake occurs by facilitated diffusion and that Cd/sup 2 +/ ions are effective at displacing Ca/sup 2 +/ ions from the calcium carrier. In saltwater fish, Ca/sup 2 +/ transport across the basolateral membranes of gill chloride cells is partially dependent on a metal-insensitive Ca/sup 2 +/-ATPase but most Ca/sup 2 +/ uptake appears to occur passively. In isolated scales, Ca/sup 2 +/ transport was energy dependent and was inhibited by both Cd and Zn.

Research Organization:
South Carolina Univ., Columbia (USA)
OSTI ID:
5335359
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

550501 -- Metabolism-- Tracer Techniques
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CADMIUM
CALCIUM 45
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM ISOTOPES
CATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CONTAMINATION
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ELEMENTS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FISHES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IONS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
METALS
NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
TOXICITY
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES
ZINC