Interference of heavy metals present in the water of the Lagoa Tramandaí/RS on the carbohydrate metabolism of the GURI Sea Catfish (G. genidens) and Bay whiff (C. spilopterus)

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the contamination of the water of Lagoa Tramandaí on Genidens genidens and Citharichthys spilopterus residents of Lagoa Tramandaí, a region susceptible to environmental damage due to the release of domestic sewage from the municipalities bathed by the lagoon. Thereby, the biota suffers the interference of heavy metals, affecting their behavior and the metabolism of these individuals. The hepatic and muscular glycogen, glucose and plasma lactate of these species were analyzed, as well as the presence of heavy metals in lagoon water. When the species were analyzed separately with their controls, both mobilized more glycogen than the control and presented increased glucose and lactate, which is characteristic of animals contaminated by heavy metals. When compared with each other, they showed differences regarding carbohydrate metabolism. It was observed that the Guri Sea Catfish suffers more influence of heavy metals than the Bay whiff. Thus, we can conclude that the water contaminated with heavy metals of this lagoon interferes in the carbohydrate metabolism of both species of fish.