Metabolic effects after short-term sublethal cadmium exposure to dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula)

1. Four groups of dogfish were subjected to 50 ppm of cadmium for 1, 2, 3 and 4 days and haematological and metabolic parameters analyzed from blood and tissue samples. 2. A significant increase of blood glucose and lactate was observed. 3. No differences were found in the majority of haematological parameters except for the red blood cell counts that showed a significant increase during the second and third day of treatment. 4. Comparing liver and muscle metabolism a decrease of protein levels are observed in both tissues and reductions of glycogen in liver and lactate in muscle were detected. 5. The results of the different parameters indicate a pattern of dual response depending on the time of exposure; a first phase of toxic impact during the first two days, followed by a second phase of recovery at the end of 4 days treatment. © 1989.