Lindane raises catfish electrodetection threshold
Peters, R.C.; Loos, W.J.G.; Hobbelen, M.; Bretschneider, F.; Hermens, J.L.M. (1995). Lindane raises catfish electrodetection threshold. Belg. J. Zool. 125(1): 185-191 In: Belgian Journal of Zoology. Koninklijke Belgische Vereniging voor Dierkunde = Société royale zoologique de Belgique: Gent. ISSN 0777-6276; e-ISSN 2295-0451, more Also appears in:Schockaert, E.R. (Ed.) (1995). Proceedings of the First Benelux Congress of Zoology, Leuven, 4-5 November 1994. Belgian Journal of Zoology, 125(1). Koninklijke Belgische Vereniging voor Dierkunde = Société royale zoologique de Belgique: Diepenbeek. 263 pp., more | |
Authors | | Top | - Peters, R.C.
- Loos, W.J.G.
- Hobbelen, M.
| - Bretschneider, F.
- Hermens, J.L.M.
| |
Abstract | The detection threshold of the electric sense in catfish, Ictalurus nebulosus, was asssessed psychophysically in order to investigate the effects of the organic toxicant lindane. In tapwater the detection threshold for ac-stimuli of 1 Hz at 18°C was 8.5 µV/cm. In 0.1% DMSO in tapwater the treshold was 14 µV/cm. In 50 µg/1 lindane dissolved in 0.1 % DMSO in tapwater the threshold went up to 1000 µV/cm. After clearing, the threshold returned to 36 µV/cm. The results demonstrate that catfish ampullary electroreceptors are susceptible to exposure to sublethal doses of organic pesticides. Since ampullary eletroreceptor organs are known to respond also to heavy metal pollution, the electric sense seems a promising system to monitor the cumulative pollution of aquatic habitats. |
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