Effect of dietary copper exposure on accumulation, growth and hematological parameters of the juvenile rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli

Copper accumulation, and its effect on growth and hematological parameters were investigated in juvenile rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli (mean length 11.83 ± 0.03 cm, and mean weight 26.02 ± 0.23 g), after sub-chronic dietary Cu exposure (0, 50, 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) for 60 days. The profile of Cu accumulation among tissues in rockfish is dependent on the exposure periods and Cu concentration. Liver of rockfish is a more important storage tissue than other tissues, and the order of Cu accumulation in tissues was liver > intestine > kidney > gill > muscle. Cu reduced the growth rate, and there was an inverse relationship between growth and Cu concentration (>50 mg/kg). The RNA:DNA ratios were not affected by exposure and there was no correlation between growth rate and RNA:DNA ratio in the liver and muscle. There was no significant effect of exposure on blood parameters except for magnesium. Cu exposure increased GOT and GPT serum concentrations with increasing time and dose.