Abstract
Cyanide markedly affected growth and resting metabolic rate while causing degenerative hepatic necrosis in juvenile rainbow trout (Salmo galrdneri, Richardson). This was revealed during two experiments performed in continuously renewed water at 12.5°C with fish fed a restricted artificial diet and exposed to assayed cyanide concentrations of 0.00, 0.01, 0.02, or 0.03 mg/L hydrogen cyanide (HCN) for 18 days.
At 0.02 and 0.03 mg/L, HCN growth was reduced by 40 to 95% after 18 days. At all concentrations, cyanide caused a severe initial repression of specific growth rate, followed by a highly significant increase which was insufficient to compensate for the original repression. Previous exposure to cyanide promoted a higher resting metabolic rate during the six days following exposure, the effect increasing with cyanide concentration. At all concentrations tested, widespread cyanide-induced degenerative necrosis of hepatocytes was observed; it was more intense at higher cyanide concentrations and well established even at 0.01 mg/L HCN.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Public Health Association: Standard methods for the examinations of water and wastewater, 13 ed., American Public Health Assoc., Washington, DC (1971).
Beadle, L. C.: The effects of salinity changes on the water content and respiration of marine invertebrates. J. Exp. Biol.8, 213 (1931).
Broderius, S. J.: Determination of molecular hydrocyanic acid in water and studies of the chemistry and toxicity to fish of the nickel-ocyanide complex. M.Sc. Thesis. Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR (1970).
Brown, M. E.: Experimental studies on growth. In M. E. Brown (ed.): The physiology of fishes. London: Academic Press (1957).
Cairns, J. and A. Scheier: The effect upon the pumpkinseed fish,Lepomis gibbosus (linn.) of chronic exposure to lethal and sublethal concentrations of dieldrin. Notul. Nat.370, (1964).
Doudoroff, P.: Toxicity to fish of cyanides and related compounds. A review. Ecol. Res. Ser. EPA 60013-76-038 Office of Res. and Devel. Environ. Res. Lab. U.S. Environmental Procedures Agency. Duluth, MN. (1976).
Elliot, J. W.: A sensitive photometric procedure for dissolved oxygen with potential field applicability. The Progressive Fish Culturist25, 42 (1963).
Epstein, J.: Estimation of microquantities of cyanide. Anal. Chem.19, 272 (1947).
Hinton, D. E., M. W. Kendall, and B. B. Silver: Use of histological and histochemical assessments in the prognosis of the effects of aquatic pollutants. Biological methods for the assessment of water quality. ASTM STP 528, American Society for Testing Materials (1973).
Ho, F. C. W. and W. E. Vanstone: Effect of estradiol monobenzoate on some serum constituents of maturing sockeye salmon (Onchorynchus nerka). J. Fish. Res. Board Can.18, 859 (1961).
Jones, E. J. R.: Fish and river pollution. London: Butterworth (1964).
Kovacs, T. G.: The effect of temperature on cyanide toxicity to rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) I Acute effects, II Chronic effects. M.Sc. Thesis. Concordia University, Montreal, Canada (1979).
Kruzynski, G. M.: Effects of dietary methoxychlor on brook troutSalevelinus fontinalis. M.Sc. Thesis. Sir George Williams University, Montreal, Canada (1972).
Leduc, G.: Une bouteille à débit constant pour petit volumes de liquides. Nat. Can.93, 61 (1966a).
Leduc, G.: Some physiological and biochemical responses of fish to chronic poisoning by cyanide. Ph.D. Thesis. Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR (1966b).
—: The role of cyanide as an ecological stressing factor to fish. In R. A. Tubb (ed.): Recent advances in fish toxicology. A Symposium. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR EPA-600/3-085, p. 152–182. (1977).
—: Deleterious effects of cyanide on early life stages of Atlantic salmon (Salmon salar). J. Fish. Res. Board Can.35, 166 (1978).
Leduc, G., and K. S. Chan: The effects of chronic cyanide poisoning on the tolerance of rainbow trout to varying salinity. Water Poll. Res. Can.10, 118 (1975).
Lesniak, J. A.: A histological approach to the study of sublethal cyanide effects in rainbow trout ovaries. M.Sc. Thesis. Concordia University, Montreal, Canada (1977).
Love, M. L.: The chemical biology of fishes. London: Academic Press (1970).
McCracken, I. R.: The allometric growth responses of exercised rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) to cyanide poisoning. Master's Thesis. Concordia University, Montreal, Canada (1978).
Mighell, I. R.: Rapid cold-branding of salmon and trout with liquid nitrogen. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can.26, 2765 (1969).
Negilski, D. S.: Individual and combined effects of cyanide, pentachloraphenol, and zinc on juvenile chinook salmon and invertebrates in model stream communities. Master's Thesis. Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR (1973).
Neil, J. H.: Some effects of potassium cyanide on speckled troutSalvelinus fontinalis. In Papers presented at the Fourth Ontario Industrial Waste Conference, Honey Harbor, Ontario. Waste and Pollution Advisory Committee, Ontario Water Resources Commission, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (1957).
Oulman, C. S., and E. R. Bauman: A colorimetric method for determining dissolved oxygen. Sewage and Industrial Wastes.28, 1461 (1956).
Ruby, S. M., D. G. Dixon, and G. Leduc: Inhibition of spermatogenesis in rainbow trout during chronic cyanide poisoning. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.8, 533 (1979).
Schievelbein, H., R. Baumeister, and R. Vogel: Comparative investigations in the activity of thiosulphate-sulphur transferase. Naturwissenschaften56, 416 (1969).
Sido, B. and A. Koj: Separation of rhodanese and thiosulphate reductase activities in carp liver extracts. Acta Biologica Crac., Ser Zoologia15, 97 (1972).
Skidmore, J. F., and P. W. A. Tovel: Toxic effect of zinc sulphate in the gills of rainbow trout. Water Res.6, 217 (1972).
Speyer, M. R.: Some effects of chronic combined arsenic and cyanide poisoning on the physiology of rainbow trout. M.Sc. Thesis. Sir George Williams Campus, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada (1975).
Sprague, J. B.: The ABC's of pollutant bioassay using fish. Biological methods for the assessment of water quality. ASTM STP 528, American Society for Testing and Materials. Philadelphia (1973).
Steel, R. G. D., and J. H. Torrie: Principles and procedures of statistics. New York: McGraw-Hill (1960).
Tappan, D. V., D. Baltazar Reynafarje, R. Van Potter, and A. Hurtado: Alterations in enzymes and metabolites resulting from adaption to low oxygen tensions. Amer. J. Physiol.190, 93 (1957).
Waiwood, K. G., and P. H. Johansen: Oxygen consumption and activity of the white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) in lethal and non-lethal levels of the organochlorine insecticide, methoxychlor. Water Res.8, 401 (1974).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dixon, D.G., Leduc, G. Chronic cyanide poisoning of rainbow trout and its effects on growth, respiration, and liver histopathology. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 10, 117–131 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01057580
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01057580