Heavy metal contamination and hepatic toxicological responses in brown trout (Salmo trutta) from the Kerguelen Islands

Ali Jaffal (1) , Stéphane Betoulle (1) , Sylvie Biagianti-Risbourg (1) , Alexandre Terreau (2) , Wilfried Sanchez (3, 1) , Séverine Paris-Palacios (1)

1 SEBIO - Stress Environnementaux et BIOsurveillance des milieux aquatiques
2 IPEV - L'Institut polaire français Paul-Emile Victor
3 INERIS - Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques

The Kerguelen Islands include various species of freshwater fish such as brown trout (Salmo trutta). These trout are among the most isolated from direct anthropogenic impact worldwide. This study was designed to analyse cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) concentrations in the liver of Kerguelen brown trout, and to assess the possible impacts of these metals on hepatic histopathology and oxidative stress parameters (superoxide dismutase and catalase activity and glutathione levels). Trout were caught in the Chateau River, the Studer Lakes and the Ferme Pond, close to the scientific station of the Kerguelen Islands, corresponding to three morphotypes (river, lake and station). Kerguelen trouts' hepatic concentrations of Cd and Cur were similar to those reported in previous studies in salmonids populations from areas under anthropological impacts. Clear hepatic disturbances (fibrosis, nuclear alteration, increased immune response, melanomacrophage centres [MMCs]) were observed in all tested trout. A similar histo-pathological trend was observed among the trout from the three morphotypes but anti-oxidative responses were higher in the trout from the "station'' morphotype. Hepatic alterations and the presence of MMCs in the livers of Kerguelen brown trout may be related to the high levels of Cd and Cu measured in this fish at all sampling sites.

Keywords: BROWN TROUT; FRESHWATER; FISH; SUB-ANTARCTIC; LIVER; BIOMARKERS

Domains: Ecotoxicology

Ali Jaffal, Stéphane Betoulle, Sylvie Biagianti-Risbourg, Alexandre Terreau, Wilfried Sanchez, et al.. Heavy metal contamination and hepatic toxicological responses in brown trout (Salmo trutta) from the Kerguelen Islands. Polar Research, 2015, 34, pp.Art. 22784. ⟨10.3402/polar.v34.22784⟩. ⟨ineris-01862929⟩