Document Detail


Effects of un-ionized ammonia on histological, endocrine, and whole organism endpoints in slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus).
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18992947     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Ammonia is known to be an important toxicant in aquatic environments. Although ammonia toxicity has been well studied in many fish species, effects of chronic exposure on slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus), a critical biomonitoring species for northern aquatic habitats, are not well known. Further, with increasing mining development in Canada's north, this information is critical to better predict potential effects of mine effluent discharges on northern fish species. Slimy sculpin were exposed to six concentrations of un-ionized ammonia (NH(3)) relevant to concentrations found in northern mining effluents: control (0 ppm), 0.278 ppm, 0.556 ppm, 0.834 ppm, 1.112 ppm, and 1.668 ppm. An LC(50) of 1.529 ppm was calculated from mortality data. Histopathological examination of gills indicated significant tissue damage, measured as lamellar fusion and epithelial lifting, at 0.834 ppm, 1.112 ppm, and 1.668 ppm. Using gill endpoints, NOEC and LOEC were calculated as 0.556 ppm and 0.834 ppm, respectively. An EC(50) of 0.775 ppm was determined for lamellar fusion and an EC(50) of 0.842 ppm for epithelial lifting. Hemorrhage of gills was present in mortalities, which occurred at 1.668 ppm of un-ionized ammonia. A significant decrease in liver somatic index (LSI) was seen in both male and female fish at 0.834 ppm and 1.112 ppm, respectively. Gonadosomatic index (GSI) in female fish significantly increased at 1.668 ppm un-ionized ammonia with an associated significant increase in total wholebody testosterone concentrations. GSI in male fish also significantly increased at 1.668 ppm but no differences were seen in testosterone concentrations. No significant differences were seen in gonad histopathological assessments or condition factor. Gill histopathology endpoints may be a more sensitive indicator for detecting effects in slimy sculpin exposed to ammonia than traditional chronic endpoints. Results from this study indicate that ammonia concentrations commonly reported in northern mine effluents hold potential to affect the health of slimy sculpin including acute, chronic, histological and endocrine endpoints.
Authors:
P Spencer; R Pollock; M Dubé
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2008-09-11
Journal Detail:
Title:  Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)     Volume:  90     ISSN:  1879-1514     ISO Abbreviation:  Aquat. Toxicol.     Publication Date:  2008 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-11-25     Completed Date:  2008-12-10     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8500246     Medline TA:  Aquat Toxicol     Country:  Netherlands    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  300-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B3 Canada. paula.spencer@usask.ca
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Ammonia / analysis,  toxicity*
Animals
Canada
Female
Fishes / physiology*
Fresh Water / chemistry
Gills / drug effects*
Gonads / drug effects*
Lethal Dose 50
Liver / drug effects*
Male
Mining*
Testosterone / metabolism
Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis,  toxicity*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Water Pollutants, Chemical; 58-22-0/Testosterone; 7664-41-7/Ammonia

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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