Response of hematological and biochemical parameters to heavy metal exposure: Implications in environmental monitoring

Abstract

The use of selected hematological and biochemical parameters as indicators of metal exposure in aquatic organisms was evaluated. The hematological and biochemical parameters examined include glucose, hematocrit and aminotransferase levels in golden shiners exposed to cadmium. Cadmium exposure produced significant alterations in the levels of glucose, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase; however, hematocrit was not altered by exposure to cadmium. In addition, the comparative activity of Na/K adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) was evaluated in the fathead minnow, golden shiner and bluegill sunfish. Basal Na/K ATPase activity was lowest in golden shiner (1·01 μmol Pi/mg protein/h) and highest in bluegill sunfish (1·45 μmol Pi/mg protein/h). While a stimulation of Na/K ATPase activity was observed at an exposure concentration of 1 μg Cd/liter in the fathead minnow and bluegill sunfish, inhibition of enzymatic activity was observed at higher exposure concentrations (10 and 100 μg Cd/liter). Gill Na/K ATPase activity in golden shiner was not significantly influenced by cadmium exposure. The observed insensitivity of ATPase in shiner may, in part, be related to higher background and accumulated concentrations of cadmium in gill tissue.