title: Swimming performance and energy homeostasis in juvenile laboratory raised fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) exposed to uranium mill effluent.
abstract: Research at the Key Lake uranium mill (Saskatchewan, Canada) suggests effluent discharged from the mill affects energy stores of resident fish, but the mechanisms by which energy homeostasis is affected and the subsequent effects on swimming performance are unknown. In the present study larvae were collected from laboratory raised adult fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) exposed to 5% diluted uranium mill effluent or control (dechlorinated municipal) water, and reared in the same treatments to 60 days post hatch (dph). Critical swimming speed (U(crit)) was significantly lower in effluent exposed 60 dph fish compared to control fish. Fish used in tests were considered fatigued and compared to fish without swim testing (non-fatigued). There were no differences in whole body glycogen or triglyceride concentrations between effluent exposed versus control fish. However, fatigued fish from both treatments had significantly lower triglycerides, but not glycogen, compared to non-fatigued fish from the same treatment. Whole body β-hydroxyacyl coenzymeA dehydrogenase activity was similar in fish from both treatments, but citrate synthase activity was significantly lower in effluent exposed fish. Our results suggest uranium mill effluent exposure in the laboratory affects aerobic energy metabolism and swimming performance in juvenile fathead minnow, which could affect wild fish survivability.
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Centre, 44 Campus Drive, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 5B3.
authors.forename: Meghan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Goertzen
authors.forename: Melissa K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Driessnack
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Janz
authors.forename: Lynn P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D015094:3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction; D013550:Swimming; D014501:Uranium / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014501:Uranium; D015094:3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase