Waterborne Lead Affects Feeding Neurotransmitter Levels of Juvenile Fathead Minnows (Pimephales promelas)

Authors

Daniel N. Weber, University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeFollow
Albert Russo, California State University - Long Beach
Dianne B. Seale, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Richard E. Spieler, Milwaukee Public MuseumFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Aquatic Toxicology

ISSN

0166-445X

Publication Date

11-1991

Keywords

Lead toxicity; Feeding behavior, Norepinephrine, Serotonin, Dopamine, Metal toxicity

Abstract

Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were exposed for a total of 4 wk to 0, 0.5 or 1.0 mg/I lead as lead acetate. After 14-day acclimation to flake food, separate groups were fed either 20 1-day, 2-day or 7-day old Daphnia magna on alternate days for 14 days and tested for total time spent feeding, failed attempts and foraging distance. Time spent feeding on daphnids and number of miscues were significantly higher among lead-exposed groups than in control fish (P<0.05). Except for a high significance among fish exposed to 1.0 mg/l lead and feeding on the largest sized prey (7-day olds), reaction distance showed no dose-response. After 4 wk, body lead ranged from not detectable in the controls to 44.2 ± 2.5 mg/l in the 1.0 mg/l lead exposed groups. Examination of whole brain neurotransmitters indicated a significant increase in both serotonin and norepinephrine levels (P < 0.01) but no change in dopamine in response to lead intoxication.

DOI

10.1016/0166-445X(91)90006-U

Volume

21

Issue

1-2

First Page

71

Last Page

80

Comments

©1991 Published by Elsevier B.V.

NSUWorks Citation

Daniel N. Weber, Albert Russo, Dianne B. Seale, and Richard E. Spieler. 1991. Waterborne Lead Affects Feeding Neurotransmitter Levels of Juvenile Fathead Minnows (Pimephales promelas) .Aquatic Toxicology , (1-2) : 71 -80. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/182.