PARENT SESSION

PM17 Pharmaceuticals
Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM - Monday

(PM272) Influence of tetracycline on copper uptake in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas).

Grosely, R¹, Tate-Boldt, E¹, Diener, A¹, MacDonald, R², Kolok, A¹, ¹ University of Nebraska at Omaha Biology Dept., Omaha, NE, USA² University of Nebraska Medical Center Biochemistry Dept., Omaha, NE, USA

ABSTRACT- In fish culture, it is not uncommon for fish to be treated with high levels of antibiotics. Our research demonstrates that tetracycline (TC) influences uptake of copper (Cu) in fathead minnows (FHM). Whole body and liver Cu concentrations were compared among four different groups: TC treated-Cu exposed (TC-Cu), Cu exposed (Cu), TC treated (TC) and TC-Cu naive group (Control). Tetracycline treatment consisted of a 14-d regime followed by a 14-d depuration period before Cu exposure (8d at 150g/L Cu). Significant differences occurred in whole body and liver Cu concentrations among the four groups. For whole body Cu, the Cu group was significantly greater than the TC-Cu group. For liver Cu, the Cu concentration was also significantly higher in the Cu group relative to the other three groups. The liver:whole body Cu concentration ratio was substantially lower for the TC treated groups than the untreated groups. Changing both the length of the TC treatment and length of the depuration period affected the liver and whole body Cu concentrations as well as the liver:whole body Cu concentration ratios. These findings suggest an influence of TC on Cu uptake that is affected by the duration of the TC treatment and by the length of the depuration period

Key words: copper, fish, tetracycline, antibiotics