Effect on total proteins in brain and plasma tissues of the European eel, Auguilla anguilla, as response to fenitrothion.

Individual European eels (Anguilla anguilla) were exposed to two sublethal fenitrothion concentrations (0.02 and 0.04 mg/l) in a continuous flow-throu gh system for four days. Changes in protein content were evaluated in eel b rain and plasma tissues during 96 hr exposure. Afterwards the eels were tra nsferred to clean water for 72 hours. Fish exposed to the lowest concentrat ion did not show any significant difference either in brain or plasma tissu e protein content. However, eels exposed to the highest concentration showe d a depletion in total proteins in both tissues. Depletion was maximum afte r 56 hr exposure (24 %) in plasma and after 48 hr (46 %) in brain tissue. D uring the recovery period,plasma protein content was still under control va lues (25 %). In brain tissue a recovery in total protein content was reache d from the first hours in clean water. The decrease in protein content of f enitrothion intoxicated fish indicated the physiological adaptability of th e fish to compensate for pesticide stress.