Recently, residual pharmaceuticals are generally recognized as relevant sources of aquatic environmental pollutants. However, the toxicological effects of these contaminants have not been adequately researched. In this study, the chronic toxic effects of carbamazepine (CBZ), an anticonvulsant pharmaceutical commonly present in surface and ground water, on physiological condition status and muscle-based biomarkers of rainbow trout were investigated. Fish were exposed at sublethal concentrations of CBZ (1.0 microg l(-1), 0.2 mg l(-1) and 2.0 mg l(-1)) for 42 days. Compared with the control, there was a significant lower (P < 0.05) condition factor in fish exposed at the highest concentration of CBZ (2.0 mg l(-1)), but the hepatosomatic indices in all groups were not significant changes. At lower CBZ concentration (1.0 microg l(-1), 0.2 mg l(-1)), the antioxidant enzyme activities were induced slightly, except catalase, while at the highest concentration (2.0 mg l(-1)) oxidative stress was apparent as reflected by the significant higher lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyls in the fish muscle, associated with a significant inhibition of antioxidant enzymes activities. Moreover, energy metabolic parameters (RNA-DNA ratio, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase) were significantly inhibited in muscle of the fish exposed at the highest concentration (2.0 mg l(-1)), compared with the control. In short, CBZ-induced physiological and biochemical responses in fish were reflected in parameters measured in this study, which suggest that these biomarkers could be used as potential indicators for monitoring residual pharmaceuticals present in aquatic environment.

Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Zatisi 728 2 398 25 Vodnany Czech Republic

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Enzymatic alterations and RNA/DNA ratio in intestine of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, induced by chronic exposure to carbamazepine