The effect of MS 222 an anaesthetic on the peroxide metabolism enzymes in erythrocytes of freshwater and marine fish species

1. The effect of 70 mg/l and 35 mg/l MS 222 an anaesthetic on the enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (C) and peroxidase (P) were estimated in erythrocytes of Cyprinus carpo, a freshwater fish and Dicentrarchus labrax, a marine fish. 2. The end of the summer, at 16 degrees C MS 222 in concentration 70 mg/l caused an enhancement of the SOD and peroxidase activities and a decrease of the catalase activity. 3. In the autumn at 22 degrees C SOD and peroxidase activities in erythrocytes of Dicentrarchus labrax are normally higher than at 16 degrees C. On the contrary MS 222 causes no significant modification of enzymatic activities measured, but an increase in the dispersion of the results. 4. At 13 degrees C in the spring, MS 222 has no immediate influence on the activity of these enzymes, whilst at the same temperature at the beginning of winter, SOD is the only one activated. 5. It seems that in experiments concerning peroxide metabolism enzymes the use of anaesthetic MS 222 is not advisable.     

Seasonal variations in the activities of peroxide metabolism enzymes in erythrocytes of freshwater fish species

Superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase activities were estimated in erythrocytes of the carp, the tench and the crucian carp. The enzymes showed higher activities in spring (1982) than in autumn (1981). In both seasons the highest levels of these antioxidative defense enzymes were found in erythrocytes of the crucian carp.     

Adrenergic responses and the Root effect in erythrocytes of freshwater fish

The effects of adrenergic-stimulation upon the oxygen-binding capacity of fish erythrocytes have been investigated. The oxygen capacity of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), erythrocytes was lowered by 44% on extracellular acidification (the so-called 'Root effect'). Addition of isoproterenol at 20° Ccaused an acid shift of the curve relating oxygen capacity to pH₀ by approximately 0.2 pH units, a value which was similar to the change in intracellular pH caused by adrenergic stimulation (Cossins & Kilbey Journal of Experimental Biology , 148 , 303–312, 1990). Moreover, when plotted as a function of pH_i, the curves for control and adrenalinstimulated erythrocytes were superimposable suggesting that the adrenergic shift in the Root curve was a result of the change in pH_i caused by activation of the adrenergic Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger.
A similarly large adrenergic shift in the Root curve was observed for pike, Esox lucius L., erythrocytes, though not for erythrocytes of carp, Cyprinus carpio L., and tench, Tinea tinea (L.). The pH for the mid-point of the Root effect in pike erythrocytes was distinctly more acid than for trout, but in both cases corresponded closely with the optimal pH for the adrenergic Na⁺/H⁺ exchange mechanism. This suggests a link between the functional characteristics of the exchanger and the oxygen-binding properties of haemoglobin.     

The effect of hypoxia on haemoglobins and ATP levels in three freshwater fish species

The effects of hypoxia on haemoglobin electrophoresis and erythrocyte adenosine triphoshate (ATP) levels were studied in Cyprinus carpio, Sarotherodon mossambicus and Salmo gairdneri. Marked interspecies differences were recorded in the percentage composition of the various haemoglobin fractions and ATP levels for the three freshwater fish species under standard laboratory conditions. No significant intraspecies differences, however, were recorded in the haemoglobin components for the three treatment groups. ATP levels, on the other hand, declined with a reduced oxygen saturation of the aquarium water in all three species. It is concluded that the organo-phosphate levels in erythrocytes are responsible for changes in the oxygen affinity of fish haemoglobins and that no conformational changes in the haemoglobins of freshwater fish are anticipated under hypoxic conditions.     

Behavioural thermoregulation in two freshwater fish species

In the presence of a vertical thermal gradient, juvenile three‐spined sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus and minnows Phoxinus phoxinus positioned themselves higher in the water column compared with adult conspecifics. This result was consistent regardless of whether age cohorts were tested separately or together. Furthermore, juveniles but not adult fishes positioned themselves higher in water column in the presence of a thermal gradient compared with those in the absence of a thermal gradient. Juvenile G. aculeatus and adult fish of both species did opt to position themselves higher in the water column in the hours immediately following a feeding event relative to their positions in the same gradient when they had not fed.     

Effect of copper on liver key enzymes of anaerobic glucose metabolism from freshwater tropical fish Prochilodus lineatus

We investigated the effect of copper on liver key enzymes of the anaerobic glucose metabolism (hexokinase, HK; phosphofructokinase, PFK; pyruvate kinase, PK; lactate dehydrogenase, LDH) as well as of the pentose pathway (glycose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, G6PDH) from the fish Prochilodus lineatus. The fish were acclimated at either 20 degrees C or 30 degrees C at pH 7.0, transferred to water at pH 4.5 or 8.0, and exposed to 96 h-CL(50) copper concentrations. Copper accumulation in liver was higher in fish acclimated at 20 degrees C and maintained in water pH 8.0. Three-way analysis of variance revealed a significant effect of temperature on all enzymes, a significant effect of pH on all enzymes except for PK, and a significant effect of copper on only PFK, and LDH in pH 4.5 at 20 degrees C and, at 30 degrees C, on PFK and PK at pH 4.5 and 8.0, HK at pH 4.5 and G6PDH at pH 8.0. There were significant interactions between treatments for many enzymes. These changes suggest that the activity of enzymes in question is modified by a change in ambient water. At least at 30 degrees C, the overall reduction in the glycolytic enzyme activities of copper-exposed fish seems to reduce energy availability via glucose metabolism, thereby contributing to enhance copper toxic effects.     

Implications of species loss in freshwater fish assemblages

Freshwater systems are vulnerable to pollution and species loss often ensues. Are there additional implications for assemblage structure? Here we use Berger‐Parker d. Simpson's I/D and Simpson's F to measure the ecological diversity of pristine and perturbed freshwater fish assemblages in Trinidad. West Indies, and Oklahoma. USA. Although the impacted sites typically had fewer species than expected, they could not be distinguished from unperturbed ones of equivalent richness. Changes in the evenness of these assemblages are thus driven by changes in richness. One practical outcome is that diversity indices may not provide independent verification of the detrimental consequences of pollution. The similarity in structure of naturally and anthropogenically impoverished assemblages provides no grounds for complacency, however, since it ignores the evolutionary history of the species concerned. On the basis of our results we suggest that species provenance may be important in tests of ecological function. Moreover, these investigations should replicate natural patterns of evenness as well as richness.     

The effect of hypoxic hypoxia on the activity of glycolysis enzymes in rat erythrocytes

The oxygen-binding properties of hemoglobin, concentration of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, activity of carbohydrate metabolism enzymes and kinetics of rat erythrocyte hemolysis have been studied at high altitudes. The hemoglobin affinity to oxygen, glycolysis enzyme activity and erythrocyte membrane resistance are established to increase at the initial period of adaptation. The activation of the pentose-phosphate pathway of the glucose, transformation and inhibition of the glycolytic process in these cells are observed on the 10th day.     

The effect of x-radiation on the glutathione metabolism of intact erythrocytes in vitro

The x-irradiation of intact washed erythrocytes results in an inhibition of the glyoxalase activity of the cells chiefly as a result of a decrease in the reduced glutathione level. The percentage inhibition is markedly increased by an increase in the dilution of the cells in physiological saline suggesting that the effect of radiation is indirect, via the production in the aqueous medium of free radicals, H₂O₂, etc. This is supported by the decrease in the inhibition produced by lowering the oxygen tension or by the addition of catalase. The inhibition of glyoxalase activity is also decreased by the addition of methylglyoxal, plasma, adenosine, inosine, glucose, and a number of other sugars to the erythrocyte suspension prior to radiation. Furthermore, some reactivation of the glyoxalase system results from the addition of plasma, glucose, adenosine, and inosine following radiation. These results are discussed in relation to the role of SH compounds, particularly glutathione, in the toxicity of ionizing radiations.     

Completeness of national freshwater fish species inventories around the world

The aim was to discriminate the countries with relatively comprehensive inventories of freshwater fishes from those with insufficiently prospected inventories. We used a data set of 16,734 freshwater fish species with a total of 1,373,449 occurrence records. Accumulation curves relating the increase in the number of species to the number of records, and completeness values obtained after extrapolating these curves to estimate the total number of predicted species were calculated for each country using the RWizard application KnowBR. Using the final slope values of the accumulation curves, the obtained completeness values, and the ratio between the number of records and the observed species, maps and plots representing the location of good, fair and poor quality inventories at country level were obtained. Inventory completeness ranged from 5.3% (Guinea-Bissau) to 108.4% (United Kingdom), with a pooled mean of 65.9%. We observed that a completeness higher than 90%, a slope lower than 0.02 and a ratio of records/species observed greater than 15 were good thresholds for identifying countries with good quality inventories; only 26 countries met these requirements, mainly located in Europe and North America. However, more than 71% of countries worldwide have inventories that can be categorised as of poor quality. Furthermore, even those countries with relatively accurate national inventories possess a high variability in the completeness of their provincial or regional inventories.     

The effect of lead ions on the energy metabolism of human erythrocytes in vitro

The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of chronic exposure to lead ions on the parameters of energetic status of human erythrocytes in vitro. Umbilical cord erythrocytes were incubated with lead acetate at final lead ion concentrations ranging from 10 to 200 microg/dl. ATP, ADP, AMP, adenosine, GTP, GDP, GMP, guanosine, IMP, inosine, hypoxanthine, NAD and NADP concentrations in erythrocytes were determined using HPLC. Scanning electron micrographs of erythrocytes were taken. The mean concentrations of ATP, GTP, NAD and NADP, and mean values of adenylate energy charge (AEC) and GEC in cells incubated at the presence of lead ions were significantly lower after 20 h of incubation. Concentrations of purine degradation products (Ado, Guo, Ino) and Hyp were significantly higher. It is suggested that lead ions affect the energy metabolism of erythrocytes. Morphological changes in erythrocytes correspond to the increase of lead ions in the incubation mixture and to the decrease of ATP concentration in erythrocytes. A decrease in NAD and ATP concentration in erythrocytes could be a sensitive indicator of energy process disturbance, useful in monitoring in case of chronic lead exposure.     

Comparative analysis of reproductive traits in 65 freshwater fish species: application to the domestication of new fish species

Based on an extensive literature search (1,000 references), the objectives of the present study were to establish a numerical clustering of temperate freshwater fish based on their reproductive traits and to evaluate whether it was possible to extrapolate zootechnical knowledge among species belonging to the same cluster. About 65 species were classified into ten homogeneous clusters from the analysis of 29 reproductive traits, among which the most important were temperature during spawning, egg incubation and larval rearing, degree-days for incubation, larval size upon hatching, spawning season, and parental care. From this typology, a rather regular continuum of reproductive clusters emerges with two obvious endpoints. Between these two extremes, species could be ordered chiefly according to temperature requirement, spawning season and parental care. In conclusion, this new typology, differing significantly from all others proposed earlier, may now serve as a possible framework to help enhancing the domestication of new species by comparison to species belonging to the same cluster.     

Thrombelastographic diagnosis of blood coagulation in two freshwater fish species

Blood coagulation in two freshwater fish species was investigated by thrombelastography. This indicated that the process in fish is similar to that of humans and mammals, involving the same three basic processes, i.e. extrinsic and/or intrinsic thromboplastin generation, the conversion of prothrombin in thrombin and the formation of fibrinogen to fibrin. Calcium is essential for these reactions to occur.     

The physiological responses of blood during thermal adaptation in three freshwater fish species

Sarotherodon mossambicus , Cyprinus carpio and Salmo gairdneri were acclimatized at temperatures of 15, 20 and 25° C in order to study physiological responses of blood to temperature fluctuations in the laboratory. Cyprinus carpio exhibited the greater ability to survive at these temperatures. Sarotherodon mossambicus experienced osmoregulatory collapse at 15° C which also occurred in trout at 25° C. This was associated with acid-base malfunction in the trout.     

Patterns in species richness and endemism of European freshwater fish

Aim  To analyse the patterns in species richness and endemism of the native European riverine fish fauna, in the light of the Messinian salinity crisis and the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM).
Location  European continent.
Methods  After gathering native fish faunistic lists of 406 hydrographical networks, we defined large biogeographical regions with homogenous fish fauna, based on a hierarchical cluster analysis. Then we analysed and compared the patterns in species richness and endemism among these regions, as well as species–area relationships.
Results  Among the 233 native species present in the data set, the Cyprinidae family was strongly dominant (> 50% of the total number of species). Seven biogeographical regions were defined: Western Peri-Mediterranea, Central Peri-Mediterranea, Eastern Peri-Mediterranea, Ponto-Caspian Europe, Northern Europe, Central Europe and Western Europe. The highest regional species richness was observed for Central Peri-Mediterranea and Ponto-Caspian Europe. The highest endemic richness was found in Central Peri-Mediterranea. Species–area relationships were characterized by high slope values for Peri-Mediterranean Europe and low values for Central and Western Europe.
Main conclusions  The results were in agreement with the 'Lago Mare' hypothesis explaining the specificity of Peri-Mediterranean fish fauna, as well as with the history of recolonization of Central and Western Europe from Ponto-Caspian Europe following the LGM. The results also agreed with the mechanisms of speciation and extinction influencing fish diversity in hydrographical networks. We advise the use of the seven biogeographical regions for further studies, and suggest considering Peri-Mediterranean Europe and Ponto-Caspian Europe as 'biodiversity hotspots' for European riverine fish.     

The effect of sterols on the metabolism of Pythium species

Summary The growth of several Pythium species is increased between 65 and 100% if cholesterol is added to the growth medium. The optimum concentration is 15 mcg per ml. Mycelium of Pythium ultimum, in which cholesterol is present, incorporates glucose-U-¹⁴C and releases ¹⁴CO₂ at a faster rate than the corresponding sterol free mycelium. In sterol containing cells, more ¹⁴CO₂ is produced from a given amount of absorbed glucose-U-¹⁴C than in sterol free cells, there is thus in sterol containing hyphae a higher level of energy production. This condition can account for the increase in growth due to cholesterol. Only if sterols are present in the cellular membranes of Pythium species is the optimum synthetic capacity reached.     

Comparison of peroxide metabolism enzymes in organs of congenic mice.

1. A study was made of the SOD, P and C activities and the protein contents of the tissue homogenates in the five most important organs of six inbred mouse strains. 2. From the results of comparative examinations it emerges that the above PME's exhibit substantial differences in the various inbred mouse strains. 3. Accordingly, only pure inbred mice or rats raised under identical conditions can be used for PME comparisons. 4. The examinations also reveal that the PME levels of the inbred strains are genetically determined.