Pesticide Effects on Eel Metabolism

Previous works on endosulfan eel toxicology in this laboratory demonstrated that 0.041 mg/liter of endosulfan was the 50% lethal concentration of 96 hr exposure. Eels of species Anguilla anguilla were exposed to two sublethal endosulfan concentrations: 8.2 μg/liter (1/5 LC50) and 4.1 μg/liter (1/10 LC50), and the experiment was done at different exposure times: 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hr. Muscle glycogen content decreased significantly (P < 0.05) at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hr exposure to 8.2 μg/liter pesticide; levels did not decline at any time when animals were exposed to 4.1 μg/liter. Muscle lactate levels in fish did not change significantly while lactate levels in eel blood increased at 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hr exposure to 8.2 μg/liter. Mean blood glucose values were elevated after exposure to both endosulfan concentrations. The results are discussed in relation to the stress effect produced by the pesticide and the related responses of the fish.