Subcellular differences in handling Cu excess in three freshwater fish species contributes greatly to their differences in sensitivity to Cu

Since changes in metal distribution among tissues and subcellular fractions can provide insights in metal toxicity and tolerance, we investigated this partitioning of Cu in gill and liver tissue of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). These fish species are known to differ in their sensitivity to Cu exposure with gibel carp being the most tolerant and rainbow trout the most sensitive. After an exposure to 50 μg/l (0.79 μM) Cu for 24 h, 3 days, 1 week and 1 month, gills and liver of control and exposed fish were submitted to a differential centrifugation procedure. Interestingly, there was a difference in accumulated Cu in the three fish species, even in control fishes. Where the liver of rainbow trout showed extremely high Cu concentrations under control conditions, the amount of Cu accumulated in their gills was much less than in common and gibel carp. At the subcellular level, the gills of rainbow trout appeared to distribute the additional Cu exclusively in the biologically active metal pool (BAM; contains heat-denaturable fraction and organelle fraction). A similar response could be seen in gill tissue of common carp, although the percentage of Cu in the BAM of common carp was lower compared to rainbow trout. Gill tissue of gibel carp accumulated more Cu in the biologically inactive metal pool (BIM compared to BAM; contains heat-stable fraction and metal-rich granule fraction). The liver of rainbow trout seemed much more adequate in handling the excess Cu (compared to its gills), since the storage of Cu in the BIM increased. Furthermore, the high % of Cu in the metal-rich granule fraction and heat-stable fraction in the liver of common carp and especially gibel carp together with the better Cu handling in gill tissue, pointed out the ability of the carp species to minimize the disadvantages related to Cu stress. The differences in Cu distribution at the subcellular level of gills and liver of these fish species strongly reflects their capacity to handle Cu excess and is one of the greatest contributors to their difference in sensitivity to Cu.

► Rainbow trout (RT), common (CC) and gibel carp (GC), which differ in sensitivity to Cu, were exposed to 50 μg/l waterborne Cu (24 h, 3 days, 1 week, 1 month).
► Liver of RT showed extremely high [Cu] in control conditions, in contrast, [Cu] accumulated in their gills was much less compared to CC and GC.
► At the subcellular level, the gills of RT and CC appeared to distribute the additional Cu in BAM, whereas GC accumulated more Cu in BIM.
► Liver of RT accumulated the additional Cu in BIM, whereas the distribution of the additional Cu in liver of CC and GC hardly changed during exposure.
► Differences in Cu distribution at the subcellular level of gills and liver strongly reflected their capacity to handle Cu excess.