Fish gill: site of action and model for toxic effects of environmental pollutants
The gill epithelium is the site of gas exchange, ionic regulation, acid-base balance, nitrogenous waste excretion by fishes. The last three processes are controlled by passive and active transport of various solutes across the epithelium. Various environmental pollutants (e.g., heavy metals, acid rain, and organic xenobiotics) have been found to affect the morphology of the gill epithelium. Associated with these morphological pathologies, one finds alterations in blood ionic levels, as well as gill Na, K-activated ATPase activity and ionic fluxes. Such physiological disturbances may underlie the toxicities of these pollutants. In addition, the epithelial transport steps which are affected in the fish gill model resemble those described in the human gut and kidney, sites of action of a variety of environmental toxins.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 6786010
- Journal Information:
- Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Vol. 71
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GILLS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
METALS
TOXICITY
ATP-ASE
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
COPPER COMPOUNDS
FISHES
INTESTINES
KIDNEYS
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
WATER POLLUTION
ZINC COMPOUNDS
ACID ANHYDRASES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BODY
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
ENZYMES
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
HYDROLASES
MICROSCOPY
ORGANS
PHOSPHOHYDROLASES
POLLUTION
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology