Oxidative stress in juvenile and early life stages of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

One proposed mechanism of toxicity in fish exposed to some organic compounds is oxidative stress. Decreased amounts of tissue antioxidants indicate a potential for oxidative stress, and increased lipid peroxidation in tissues suggests oxidative stress damage.; In contrast, blue sac disease accompanies exposure to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon retene in early life stages (ELS) of rainbow trout.; According to this model, ELS should be more vulnerable to oxidative stress than juveniles because they have presumably finite supplies of antioxidants. Rainbow trout exposed to retene from just prior to hatch to near swim-up had lower whole-body concentrations of glutathione and vitamin E, higher kidney CYP1A protein content, and greater prevalence of blue sac disease symptoms (BSDS) than other treatment groups. Co-treatment with waterborne vitamin E slightly ameliorated the incidence of BSDS, without affecting CYP1A protein content. Whole-body concentrations of LPO were not affected by retene, or prooxidant, exposure. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...