Skip to main content
Log in

Effects of inorganic lead on delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity and hematological variables in the rainbow trout,Salmo gairdnerii

  • Published:
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The activity of the enzyme delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) was strongly depressed in erythrocytes, spleen and renal tissue of rainbow trouts (Salmo gairdnerii) exposed to sublethal levels of inorganic lead (10, 75 and 300 μg Pb2+/L) for 30 days. The fish exposed to the highest lead concentration also showed an anemic response and basophilic stippling of erythrocytes. The lead exposure did not cause any alteration of the white blood cell picture.

The ALA-D inhibition, the anemia and basophilic stippling seemed to persist in the lead-exposed fish even after a recovery period of seven weeks in lead-free water.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Albahary, C: Lead and hemopoiesis. The mechanism and consequences of the erythropathy of occupational lead poisoning. Am. J. Med.52, 367 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Botts, R. P.: The short-term effects of lead on domestic and wild animals. EPA Report: EPA-600/3-77-009(1977).

  • Catton, W. T.: Blood cell formation in certain teleost fishes. Blood6, 39 (1951).

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, P. H., and W. H. Everhart: Effects of chemical variations in aquatic environments: Vol. III. Lead toxicity to rainbow trout and testing application factor concept. U.S. Environ. Prot. Agency, Water Pollut. Control Res. Ser. 18050 DYC. EPA-R3-73-011c (1973).

  • Davies, P. H., J. P. Goettl Jr., J. R. Sinley, and N. F. Smith: Acute and chronic toxicity of lead to rainbow trout,Salmo gairdneri, in hard and soft water. Water Res.10, 199 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawson, A. B.: The hemopoietic response in the catfish,Ameiurus nebulosus, to chronic lead poisoning. Biol. Bull.68, 335 (1935).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dresel, E. I. B., and J. E. Falk: Studies on the biosynthesis of blood pigments. 3. Haem and porphyrin formation from delta-aminolevulinic acid and from porphobilinogen in haemolysed chicken erythrocytes. Biochem. J.63, 80 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fänge, R., and M-L. Johansson-Sjöbeck: The effect of splenectomy on the hematology and on the activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) in hemopoietic tissues of the dogfish,Scylliorhinus canicula (Elasmobranchii). Comp. Biochem. Physiol.52A, 577 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, S. L. M., and A. Goldberg: Defects in haem synthesis in mammalian tissues in experimental lead poisoning and experimental porphyria. Clin. Sci.38, 63 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, A., H. Ashenbrucker, G. F. Cartwright, and M. M. Wintrobe: Studies on the biosynthesis of heme in vitro by avian erythrocytes. Blood11, 821 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  • Granick, J. L., S. Sassa, S. Granick, R. D. Levere, and A. Kappas: Studies in lead poisoning. II. Correlation between the ratio of activated to inactivated delta-amino levulinic acid dehydratase of whole blood and the blood lead level. Biochem. Med.8, 149 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  • Griggs, R. C.: Lead poisoning: Hematologic aspects. Progr. Hematol.4, 117 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Haider, G.: Zur Kenntnis von Schwermetallvergiftungen bei Fischen. I. Bleivergiftung bei Regenbogenforellen (Salmo gairdneri Rich.) und ihr Nachweis. Z. angew. Zool.51, 347 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Haider, G.: Vergleichende Untersuchung zu Blutmorphologie und Hämatopoese einiger Teleosteir. IV. Blutbildungsstätten und Blutbildung. Zool. Anz.181, 203 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernberg, S., and Nikkanen: Enzyme inhibition by lead under normal urban conditions. Lancet1, 63 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernberg, S., J. Nikkanen, G. Mellin, and H. Lilius: Delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase as a measure of lead exposure. Arch. Environ. Health21, 140 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernberg, S., S. Tola, J. Nikkanen, and S. Valkonen: Erythrocyte delta-amino-levulinic acid dehydratase in new lead exposure. Arch. Environ. Health25, 109 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernberg, S.: Biochemical, subclinical and clinical responses to lead and their relation to different exposure levels, as indicated by concentration of lead in blood. In G. F. Nordberg (ed.): Effects and dose-response relationships of toxic metals, p. 404. Amsterdam-Oxford-New York: Elsevier (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodson, P. V.: Delta-amino levulinic acid dehydratase activity of fish blood as an indicator of a harmful exposure to lead. J. Fish. Res. Board Can.33, 268 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodson, P. V., B. R. Blunt, D. J. Spry, and K. Austen: Evaluation of erythrocyte delta-amino levulinic acid dehydratase activity as a short-term indicator in fish of a harmful exposure to lead. J. Fish. Res. Board Can.34, 501 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  • Holcombe, G. W., D. A. Benoit, E. N. Leonard, and J. M. McKim: Long-term effects of lead exposure on three generations of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). J. Fish. Res. Board Can.33, 1731 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackim, E.: Influence of lead and other metals on fish delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase activity. J. Fish. Res. Board Can.30, 560 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  • Jordan, H. E.: Extramedullary blood production. Physiol. Rev.22, 375 (1942).

    Google Scholar 

  • Johansson-Sjöbeck, M-L., and Å. Larsson: The effect of cadmium on the hematology and on the activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) in blood and hematopoietic tissues of the flounder,Pleuronectes flesus L. Environ. Res.17, 191 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  • Johansson-Sjöbeck, M-L.: The effect of splenectomy on the hematology and on the activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) in hemopoietic tissues of the European eel,Anguilla anguilla L., Comp. Biochem. Physiol. in press (1978).

  • Lauwerys, R. R., J-P. Buchet, and H. A. Roels: Comparative study of effect of inorganic lead and cadmium on blood delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase in man. Brit. J. Ind. Med.30, 359 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  • Millar, J. A., R. L. C. Cumming, V. Battistini, F. Carswell, and A. Goldberg: Lead and deltaaminolevulinic acid dehydratase levels in mentally retarded children and in lead-poisoned suckling rats. Lancet2, 695 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, J. M., and H. B. Burch: Comparative tests for diagnosis of lead poisoning. Arch. Intern. Med.130, 335 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Roels, H. A., J-P. Buchet, R. R. Lauwerys, and J. Sonnet: Comparison of invivo effect of inorganic lead and cadmium on glutathione reductase system and delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase in human erythrocytes. Brit. J. Ind. Med.32, 181 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tengerdy, R. P.: Delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity in Friend virus-infected mice. Cancer Res.26, 312 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Topf, W.: Über die Blutbildung und die Blutbildungsstätten beim Karpfen (Cyprinus carpio L.). Zool. Anz.150, 91 (1953).

    Google Scholar 

  • Waldron, H. A.: The anaemia of lead poisoning: A review. Brit. J. Ind. Med.23, 83 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Weissberg, J. B., F. Lipschutz, and F. A. Oski: Delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity in circulating blood cells. A sensitive laboratory test for the detection of childhood lead poisoning. New England J. Med.284, 565 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wintrobe, M. M.: Hemolytic anemias. In: Clinical Hematology, p. 621. Henry Kimpton, London (1967).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Johansson-Sjöbeck, M.L., Larsson, Å. Effects of inorganic lead on delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity and hematological variables in the rainbow trout,Salmo gairdnerii . Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 8, 419–431 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01056348

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01056348

Keywords

Navigation