TitleChemical and biological evidence links microcystins to salmon 'netpen liver disease'.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1993
AuthorsAndersen, RJ, Luu, HA, Chen, DZ, Holmes, CF, Kent, ML, Le Blanc, M, Taylor, FJ, Williams, DE
JournalToxicon
Volume31
Issue10
Pagination1315-23
Date Published1993 Oct
ISSN0041-0101
KeywordsAnimals, Aquaculture, Chromatography, Liquid, Fish Diseases, Liver Diseases, Marine Toxins, Microcystins, Peptides, Cyclic, Phosphoprotein Phosphatases, Salmon
Abstract

Evidence is presented that links microcystins to a severe liver disease that occurs in Atlantic salmon that are netpen-reared in coastal British Columbia. Liquid chromatography-linked protein phosphatase bioassay analysis of extracts of liver tissue taken from Atlantic salmon afflicted with netpen liver disease showed the presence of an inhibitor of protein phosphatase that was chromatographically indistinguishable from microcystin-LR. Analysis of liver tissue from healthy control fish showed a complete absence of microcystin-LR. Intraperitoneal injection of microcystin-LR into healthy Atlantic salmon re-created the pathologic changes of netpen liver disease, including diffuse necrosis and hepatic megalocytosis.
DOI10.1016/0041-0101(93)90404-7
Alternate JournalToxicon
PubMed ID8303725