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Induction of heat shock proteins, changes in liver ultrastructure, and alterations of fish behavior: are these biomarkers related and are they useful to reflect the state of pollution in the field?

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Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recovery

Abstract

Heat shock protein (hsp70) expression, changes inliver ultrastructure, and alterations of swimmingbehavior were simultaneously investigated in browntrout (Salmo trutta f. fario) exposed towater from test streams in southern Germany undersemi-field conditions during 1995 and 1996. Chemicalanalyses revealed different levels of contamination ofthe two streams by pesticides, PAHs, PCBs, and heavymetals, whereas stream pollution was only partlyreflected by body burdens of contaminants in fish.Biomarker responses were compared after differenttimes of exposure and with respect to differenttemperature conditions. Differences in pollutionstates of the streams were reflected by differentbiomarker responses of the trout. In the highlycontaminated stream, the biomarker responses were morecoincident with one another than in the moderatelypolluted stream in which the biomarkers showed littlerelation to one another. This is primarily due to thedifferential capacities of the biomarkers to integratestress responses over time. Understanding the dynamicsof the stress response curves and the effects oftemperature on biomarker responses is essential forevaluating the effects of environmental stressors suchas contaminants on the health of organisms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiological Ecology, Zoological Institute, Germany

    Rita Triebskorn, Michael Schramm & Ewald F. Müller

  2. Department of Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, D-72076, Tübingen, FRG

    Heinz-R. Köhler

  3. Applied and Environmental Chemistry, Steinbeis-Transfer-Centre Reutlingen, Alteburgstrasse 150, D-72762, Reutlingen, Germany

    Wolfgang Honnen

  4. Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, U.S.A.

    S. Marshall Adams

Authors
  1. Rita Triebskorn
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  2. Heinz-R. Köhler
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  3. Wolfgang Honnen
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  4. Michael Schramm
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  5. S. Marshall Adams
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  6. Ewald F. Müller
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Triebskorn, R., Köhler, HR., Honnen, W. et al. Induction of heat shock proteins, changes in liver ultrastructure, and alterations of fish behavior: are these biomarkers related and are they useful to reflect the state of pollution in the field?. Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recovery 6, 57–73 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008224301117

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