Effects of Metal Poisoning on Five Liver Enzymes in the Killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus)

Abstract

Activities of five liver enzymes (acid and alkaline phosphatase, catalase, xanthine oxidase, and ribonuclease) from Fundulus heteroclitus surviving exposure to 96-hr TL_m concentrations of salts of six metals (lead, copper, mercury, beryllium, cadmium, and silver) differed markedly from those of unexposed fish. Changes in enzyme activity produced by the exposures were not necessarily the same in magnitude or direction as those observed when the salts were introduced directly into the enzyme preparations. It is proposed that changes in liver enzyme activity may be useful as a kind of biochemical autopsy tool for diagnosing sublethal metal poisoning in fish.