Seasonal variation in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism of yellow perch ( Perca flavescens) chronically exposed to metals in the field

• Published in: Aquatic toxicology Vol. 60; no. 3; pp. 257 - 267
• Main Authors: Levesque, H.M, Moon, T.W, Campbell, P.G.C, Hontela, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 30-10-2002; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Body Weight - drug effects; Body Weight - physiology; Cadmium; Canada, Quebec, Rouyn-Noranda; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Carbohydrates; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Enzymes; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified - blood; Female; Field; Fish; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glycogen - biosynthesis; Intermediary metabolism; Lipid Metabolism; Lipids; Liver - enzymology; Liver - metabolism; Male; Metals; Metals, Heavy - toxicity; Perca flavescens; Perches - growth & development; Perches - metabolism; Quebec; Seasons; Triglycerides - biosynthesis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Yellow perch; Canada; North America; America; Quebec; Cadmium; Carbohydrates; Enzymes; Field; Yellow perch; Metals; Fish; Lipids; Intermediary metabolism; Toxicity; Spatial variation; Zinc; Heavy metal; Freshwater environment; Vertebrata; Enzymatic activity; Seasonal variation; Pisces; Glycolysis; Lakes; Water pollution; Carbohydrate; Copper; Perca flavescens; Gluconeogenesis
• ISSN: 0166-445X; 1879-1514
• DOI: 10.1016/S0166-445X(02)00012-7

The effects of heavy metals on growth, intermediary metabolism and enzyme activities were investigated in yellow perch (
Perca flavescens), sampled in summer and fall from lakes situated along a contamination gradient of Cd, Zn and Cu in the mining region of Rouyn–Noranda, Québec. An exposure-dependent decrease in condition factor was observed in both seasons. Liver glycogen and triglyceride reserves were higher in summer than in fall in fish from the reference lake, while the seasonal pattern was different in fish from the contaminated lakes. Plasma free fatty acids (FFA) levels were also influenced by season and contamination. Activities of malic enzyme (ME) and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) in the liver were higher in the summer than in the fall in reference lakes whereas no seasonal variations were detected in fish from contaminated lakes. Activities of pyruvate kinase (PyK), aspartate transaminase (AST), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH), were higher in fish from contaminated lakes in fall but not in summer. Chronic exposure of yellow perch to sublethal levels of heavy metals impairs growth and alters the seasonal cycling of liver glycogen and triglycerides as well as the activities of metabolic enzymes.