Oxidative damage in trout erythrocyte in response to “in vitro” copper exposure

The oxidative action of copper on different trout Oncorhynchus mykiss erythrocyte components was studied. The results indicate that:–cupric ions differently influence the oxidative status of two trout hemoglobin components I and IV (HbI and HbIV) having different structural and functional properties;–reactive oxygen species (ROS) production associated with hemoglobins autoxidation is not influenced by the presence of copper sulfate;–the susceptibility to hemolysis increases in the presence of copper only when the erythrocyte suspension is incubated in air; the effect of copper is almost absent for carbon monoxide-saturated erythrocyte suspensions;–DNA damage due to copper was not observed in our experimental conditions.The data obtained are important for the analysis of the environmental risks produced by copper on fish.