The effect of cadmium on the hematology and on the activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) in blood and hematopoietic tissues of the flounder, Pleuronectes flesus L

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Environmental Research; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(78)90021-X· OSTI ID:5465955

Johansson-Sjoebeck, M L.L.; Larsson, A ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Goeteborg (Sweden)

Flounders (Pleuronectes flesus) were exposed to sublethal levels of cadmium (5, 50, and 500 micrograms of Cd{sup 2+}/liter) for periods of 4 and 9 weeks, and the hematological response as well as the effect on the activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) in blood and blood-forming tissues were investigated. Significant reductions of hematocrit, hemoglobin, and red blood cell count were found in the cadmium-exposed fish. This anemic response was apparent even in flounders exposed to the lowest cadmium concentration, approximately corresponding to 1/4000 of the 96-hr LC50 value. The anemia was accompanied by a significant increase of the ALA-D activity in renal tissues. This indicates a compensatory stimulation of the introductory steps of the hemoglobin biosynthesis. However, the formation of hemoglobin does not seem to be accomplished, which might be due to a disturbed iron metabolism. The cadmium exposure also resulted in a significant increase of the number of lymphocytes, indicating an action on the immunological defense of the fish.

• OSTI ID: 5465955
• Journal Information: Environmental Research; (USA), Journal Name: Environmental Research; (USA) Vol. 17:2; ISSN ENVRA; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOSYNTHESIS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BLOOD COUNT
BODY FLUIDS
CADMIUM
CARBON-OXYGEN LYASES
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
ELEMENTS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
ERYTHROCYTES
FISHES
GLOBINS
HEMOGLOBIN
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
LEUKOCYTES
LYASES
LYMPHOCYTES
MATERIALS
METALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PIGMENTS
POLLUTION
PORPHYRINS
PROTEINS
SENSITIVITY
SOMATIC CELLS
SYNTHESIS
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION