Abstract

Effects Of SbCl3 On Aquatic Organism: Acute Test, Serum Metabolic Enzyme Activities, And Blood Cell Deformation

Author(s): Jen-Lee Yang, Liang-Hsien Chen, Hon-Cheng Chen

The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of antimony (Sb) on acute toxicity, on serum metabolic enzyme activities as well as on erythrocyte morphological changes in the blood stream of zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio). Median lethal concentrations were determined in acute tests. The 96-h LC50 value was 4.65 (3.37-6.42) mg/L. During 2 weeks testing period, zebrafish were exposed to 3 different sublethal levels of antimony (0.5, 1.5, and 3.0 mg/L) in laboratory toxicity tests. Serum metabolic enzyme activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was analyzed. An increase of enzyme activity in serum was observed, particularly at the highest exposure concentrations. Moreover, erythrocyte morphological deformation in the bloodstream proposes acting as a promising indicator of water pollution levels.