[Process of exotrophy in fish. Effects of the heavy metals Zn and Cu]

The review summarizes for the first time the information on effects of Zn and Cu on various links of the fish exotrophy process. It has been shown that essential metals, like the nonessential ones, can produce negative effects on various aspects of the feeding behavior, on sensor systems providing feeding behavior, and on the digestive enzymes realizing digestion in fish of different ecological groups. A particular attention is paid to their different effects on proteinases functioning in stomach and intestine of various fish species as well as on hydrolase activities in their potential food objects (fish and invertebrate animals). Several mechanisms are considered which allow decreasing the negative action of Zn and Cu on the process of fish exotrophy.