TOXIC EFFECTS OF CADMIUM AND COPPER ON THE ISOLATED HEART OF DOGFISH SHARK, SQUALUS ACANTHIAS

The adverse effects of heavy metal ions on the heart functions of lower vertebrates are largely unknown. In the present study, the effects of Cd2+, Cu2+, and Cu+ on the cardiac functions of the heart isolated from dogfish shark, Squalus acanthias, including the epicardial electrocardiogram, ventricu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A Part A, 1999-08, Vol.57 (7), p.507-519
Main Author: Rui Wang, Xin-Tao Wang, Lingyun Wu, Mircea-Alexandru Mateescu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Cadmium Chloride - toxicity
Copper - toxicity
Dogfish - physiology
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Electrocardiography
Environmental Pollutants - toxicity
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Heart - drug effects
Heart - physiology
Heart Rate - drug effects
Marine and brackish environment
Perfusion
Squalus acanthias
Time Factors
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Summary:The adverse effects of heavy metal ions on the heart functions of lower vertebrates are largely unknown. In the present study, the effects of Cd2+, Cu2+, and Cu+ on the cardiac functions of the heart isolated from dogfish shark, Squalus acanthias, including the epicardial electrocardiogram, ventricular developed pressure (VDP), and heart beating rate, were studied. Cadmium (10 to 100 muM) significantly decreased VDP of the isolated shark hearts in a reversible manner. However, heart beating rate was not affected by cadmium. Cadmium also induced a transient modification of the amplitude and the form of the QRS complex. Cupric ion transiently increased VDP in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas cuprous ion (1 to 100 muM) did not markedly alter the cardiac functions of shark. Cupric or cuprous ions did not change heart beating rate and electrocardiogram at concentrations of 10 to 100 muM. Our results, for the first time, demonstrated the effects of cadmium on shark heart and indicated that the cardiac effects of copper are valence dependent. An elucidation of heavy metal effects on fish cardiac functions will help to understand the complex toxicological properties of heavy metals in different species and tissues, and will provide information for management of pollution control and marine resource protection.
ISSN:1528-7394
0098-4108
1087-2620
DOI:10.1080/009841099157575