The effects of pentachlorophenol, phenol and other pollutants on the liver of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Liver tissue of carp was kept in roller tubes and the basal and epinephrine-induced release of glucose after 6 or 24 hr incubation were measured. The amount of liver glycogen after incubation was also determined. The liver was taken from carp treated in vivo with pollutants, mainly PCP or phenol, or was exposed to these pollutants in vitro. Treatment of carp in vivo with 10-10(4) micrograms/l phenol reduced the basal and the epinephrine-induced release of glucose from the liver. Treatment with low doses increased the glycogen content of the liver slightly, treatment with higher doses reduced the amount. Treatment of carp with low doses of several pollutants decreased mainly the basal glucose release from the liver and reduced the glycogen content. In vitro incubation of the liver with PCP or phenol for 3 days reduced at first the basal release and later the epinephrine-stimulated release of glucose from the liver. After a few days the glycogen content of liver exposed to pollutants was more strongly reduced than that of controls. The phosphorylase activity was slightly increased in liver tissue by the pollutants.