Abstract
Tissue-specific lead accumulation rates were determined in the estuarine teleost fish,Gillichthys mirabilis, as a function of four variables; sea water lead concentration, duration of exposure to lead, salinity, and temperature. Distinct tissue-specific accumulation rates were found. Spleen, gills, fins, and intestine accumulated the greatest amounts of lead; liver and muscle accumulated the least lead.
Decay of lead from tissues of lead-exposed fish was observed only for gills, fins, and intestine, tissues which all possess an outer or inner covering of mucus. Our data suggest that the rapid turnover of lead in these mucus-covered tissues is a result of lead complexing with mucus and subsequent loss of lead when the mucus layer is sloughed off. In spleen and vertebrae, lead levels continued to rise in fish returned to natural (unspiked) sea water from lead-spiked sea water.
The rate of lead accumulation was dependent on both the holding salinity and the temperature. Fish held at high temperature accumulated lead more rapidly than fish held at low temperature. The rate of lead accumulation was inversely proportional to the salinity of the medium. Both of these environmental effects on lead accumulation rates could be significant in estuarine habitats where lead concentrations, salinity, and temperature are all apt to vary seasonally.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albahary, C.: Lead hemopoiesis. Amer. J. Medicine52 367 (1972).
Behrisch, H. W., and P. W. Hochachka: Temperature and the regulation of enzyme activity in poikilotherms: Properties of trout fructose-diphosphatase. Biochem. J.111 287 (1969).
Berk, P. D., D. P. Tschudy, L. A. Shepley, J. G. Waggoner, and N. I. Berlin: Hematologic and biochemical studies in a case of lead poisoning. Amer. J. Medicine48 137 (1970).
Boothe, P. N., and G. A. Knauer: The possible importance of fecal material in the biological amplification of trace and heavy metals. Limnol. Oceanogr.17 270 (1972).
Chisolm, J. J.: Disturbances in the biosynthesis of heme in lead intoxication. J. Pediatrics64 174 (1964).
Chow, T. J., C. C. Patterson, and D. Settle: Occurrence of lead in tuna. Nature251 159 (1974).
Chow, T. J., H. G. Snyder, and C. B. Snyder: Mussels (Mytilus sp.) as a lead pollution indicator. Sci. of Total Environm.5 66 (1976).
Courtois, L. A.: Respiratory responses ofGillichthys mirabilis to changes in temperature, dissolved oxygen and salinity. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.53A 7 (1976).
de Vlaming, V. L.: Thermal selection behaviour in the estuarine gobyGillichythys mirabilis Cooper. Fish. Biol.3 277 (1971).
Haeger-Aronsen, B.: Studies on urinary excretion of δ-aminolaevulic acid and other haem precursors in lead workers and lead-intoxicated rabbits. Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest.12 10 (1960).
Hirano, T.: Some factors regulating water intake by the eel,Anguilla japonica. J. Exp. Biol.61 737 (1974).
Hochachka, P. W., and G. N. Somero: Strategies of Biochemical Adaptation. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders and Co. (1973).
Hoffmann, E. O., R. A. Trejo, N. R. Di Luzio, and J. Lamberty: Ultrastructural alterations of liver and spleen following acute lead administration in rats. Exp. Molecular Pathol.17 159 (1972).
Kreimer-Birnbaum, M., and M. Grinstein: Porphyrin biosynthesis. III. Porphyrin metabolism in experimental lead poisoning. Biochim. Biophys. Acta111 110 (1965).
Maetz, J., and D. H. Evans: Effects of temperature on branchial sodium-exchange and extrusion mechanisms in the seawater-adapted flounderPlatichthys flesus L. J. Exp. Biol.56 565 (1972).
Motais, R., and J. Isaia: Temperature-dependence of permeability to water and to sodium of the gill epithelium of the eelAnguilla anguilla. J. Exp. Biol.56 587 (1972).
Motais, R., J. Isaia, J. C. Rankin, and J. Maetz: Adaptive changes of the water permeability of the teleostean gill epithelium in relation to external salinity. J. Exp. Biol.51 529 (1969).
Schroeder, H. A., J. J. Balassa, and W. H. Vinton, Jr.: Chromium, cadmium, and lead in rats: Effects on life span, tumors, and tissue levels. J. Nutrition86 51 (1965).
Schulz-Baldes, M.: Lead uptake from sea water and food, and lead loss in the common musselMytilus edulis. Mar. Biol.25 177 (1974).
Somero, G. N.: Thermal modulation of pyruvate metabolism in the fishGillichthys mirabilis: The role of lactate dehydrogenases. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.44B 205 (1973).
Somero, G. N., and D. Doyle: Temperature and rates of protein degradation in the fishGillichthys mirabilis. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.46B 463 (1973).
Somero, G. N., P. H. Yancey, T. J. Chow, and C. B. Snyder: Lead effects on tissue and whole organism respiration of the estuarine teleost fish,Gillichthys mirabilis. Arch. Environm. Contamin. Toxicol. this issue (1977).
Spaargaren, D. H.: Changes in permeability in the shore crab,Carcinus maenas (L.), as a response to salinity. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.51A 549 (1975).
Varanasi, U., P. A. Robisch, and D. C. Malins: Structural alterations in fish epidermal mucus produced by water-borne lead and mercury. Nature258 431 (1975).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Somero, G.N., Chow, T.J., Yancey, P.H. et al. Lead accumulation rates in tissues of the estuarine teleost fish,Gillichthys mirabilis: Salinity and temperature effects. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 6, 337–348 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02097774
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02097774