Toxicity of Co²⁺: implications for lateral line studies

Abstract.

It has been reported that superficial neuromasts, a type of lateral line organ, mediate rheotaxis in fish. These studies used Co²⁺ at 2 mmol l^–1 for 3 h to ablate the entire lateral line system. The recommended concentration is 0.1 mmol l^–1. The present study shows that at 2 mmol l^–1 Co²⁺ is highly toxic to blind Mexican cave fish. Fish exposed to this concentration died in less than 17 h, and produced copious mucus. No control fish died. No cobalt treated fish died after 3 h exposure, but cobalt-treated fish swam about their aquaria faster than control fish and tended to swim at the surface. Hence, both survival and behavior were changed by the excessive concentration of Co²⁺.