Author(s)

H.H. Sloterdijk, J. Bureau & A.M. Prud'homme

Abstract

Hepatic metallothionein induction in fish (White Sucker, Catostomus commersoni) from the St. Lawrence River H.H. Sloterdijk, J. Bureau, A.-M. Prud'homme Centre Saint-Laurent, Environment Canada, 1001 rue Pierre Dupuy, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada J4K 1A1 ABSTRACT White sucker (Catostomus commersoni), a benthic fish species, were captured by electro-fishing in the St. Lawrence River near Montreal, Quebec, and put into cages placed upstream and downstream of an industrial complex (heavy metals). After exposure of about a week, the cages were retrieved and the livers of the fish were dissected out for MT determination (silver-saturation method). Three experiments were carried out: July, August, and October, 1991. Hepatic metal content was determined on some specimens from the August experiment. Results indicated that there was a direct relationship between hepatic copper and zinc concentrations and MT content, all being higher in specimens from the upstream site. Recent data on sediment

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