The toxic effects on the stress and immune responses in juvenile rockfish, Sebastes schlegelii exposed to hexavalent chromium

Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2016 Apr:43:128-33. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2016.03.008. Epub 2016 Mar 10.

Abstract

Juvenile Sebastes schlegelii (mean length 13.7±1.7cm, and mean weight 55.6±4.8g) were exposed for 4 weeks with the different levels of dietary chromium (Cr(6+)) concentration (0, 30, 60, 120 and 200mg/L). The plasma cortisol and heat shock protein 70 was evaluated as stress indicators. Plasma cortisol was significantly increased in response to the dietary chromium exposure over 120mg/kg at 2 and 4 weeks. Heat shock protein 70 was also notably increased over 120mg/kg at 2 weeks and over 60mg/kg at 4 weeks. In the immune response, immunoglobulin M was considerably increased in the concentration of 240mg/kg at 2 weeks and over 120mg/kg at 4 weeks. Lysozyme activity was considerably induced by the dietary hexavalent chromium exposure. A significant increase in plasma lysozyme activity was observed at 240mg/kg after 2 weeks and over 60mg/kg after 4 weeks, kidney lysozyme was also increased over 120mg/kg at 2 and 4 weeks. The results demonstrate that dietary Cr exposure can induce a significant stress and immune stimulation.

Keywords: Chromium; Immune response; Metal induced stress; Rockfish.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bass / physiology*
  • Chromium / toxicity*
  • Immune System / drug effects*
  • Stress, Physiological
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity*

Substances

  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Chromium
  • chromium hexavalent ion