engleski

Seasonal variability of the cytosolic metal and protein concentrations in three tissues of European chub of the same age

The concentrations of metallothioneins (MT), total proteins (TP) and metals (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn and Cd) in the cytosol of gills, liver and intestine of European chub (Squalius cephalus) were compared in the fish specimens of the same age (2 and 3 year old) caught in the spring and autumn. The most pronounced seasonal variability in both age groups was observed in the gills, with the higher levels of all measured cellular parameters in the spring period. Increased concentrations in the spring period were also recorded for TP, Fe and Mn in the intestine and for MT and Mn in the liver tissue of the same fish specimens. The spring period coincides with the chub spawning season (April to June). Additionally, the increased food availability leads to enhanced feeding and metabolic rates in the spring, which evidently caused the increase of several cellular parameters in the selected chub tissues. To achieve more reliable assessment of fish exposure to metals and their bioavailability from water, the appropriate target organ should be carefully selected for metal and MT determination, taking into consideration their variability caused by natural stressors.

chub; gills; liver; intestine; metallothioneins; metals

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