The effect of temperature on physiological changes in carp, Cyprinus carpio L., induced by phenol

Carp were exposed to four sublethal phenol concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 10 mg/liter) at two temperatures (12 and 17 degrees C). Blood and tissue samples were taken after various periods (1-72 hr) of exposure. For each period controls were taken. Serum concentrations of glucose, cortisol, protein, cholesterol, and triglycerides were determined. Parallelly, the liver glycogen content and the relation of wet and dry weight of the white epaxial muscle were measured. No general significant differences were found among the phenol-treated groups exposed to concentrations of 1 mg/liter and lower. After exposure to these concentrations only serum cortisol showed a significant elevation versus control at both temperatures. In fish exposed to 10 mg/liter a temperature-dependent, significant response to the stressor was found: At the lower temperature mostly a higher stress response occurred in the measured parameters. Fish, which were exposed for 7 days to 10 mg/liter, recovered from all changes after a retransfer to unpolluted water at 17 degrees C.