STUDIES OF MICRONUCLEI AND OTHER NUCLEAR ABNORMALITIES IN BLOOD OF RAINBOW TROUT (<i>ONCORHYNCHUS MYKISS</i>) TREATED WITH HEAVY METAL MIXTURE AND ROAD MAINTENANCE SALTS

Abstract

The frequency of micronuclei (MN), nuclear buds and bi-nucleated erythrocytes was analysed in peripheral blood of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), treated with a heavy metal model mixture (HMMM) and with a mixture of road maintenance salts in doses of real metal and salt concentrations in soil near the main Lithuanian highway. The absolute concentration (100%) of the HMMM solution was Cu 0.874; Zn 0.93; Pb 4.7; Ni 0.66; Cr 0.33 and Mn 18 mg/l. Four groups of fish, each consisting of ten specimens, were exposed to 21.79%, 10.89%, 5.45% and to 1.1% mixtures of HMM for 14 days. Additionally, four groups of rainbow trout (10 specimens in each group) were exposed to the solution containing 4.56, 2.28, 1.14, and 0.1825 g/l of road maintenance salt for 14 days and fish in one aquarium were treated with common salt (4.56 g/l). The control group of rainbow trout was kept in an aquarium with artesian aerated water. A statistically significant increase in micronuclei was observed in the rainbow trout after expos...