Abstract:

To fully assess the impacts of Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil on the vertebrate stress response and the trajectory for recovery, our research integrated molecular, cellular, gland/organ and whole animal physiological studies using a benthic marine teleost, the Gulf toadfish, a resident of the Gulf of Mexico. These studies evaluated multiple pathways (e.g., pituitary fatigue, reduced receptor sensitivity, disruption or overstimulation of cortisol biosynthesis) and the consequence of these changes at the whole animal level (e.g., changes in carbohydrate metabolism, immune capacity and responses to natural stresses such as predation and social interaction). In this series of experiments, tissue endpoints such as plasma osmolality and plasma cholesterol concentration were evaluated during short-term exposures to DWH oil. Each exposure was followed by a complementary recovery period (i.e., no oil or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure) to assess the recovery trajectory. These experiments were completed at Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS), University of Miami, Marine Technology & Life Sciences Seawater Complex (MTLSS) Building, room 211 between January 2019 to December 2019.

Suggested Citation:

Alloy, Matthew M.; Cartolano, Maria C.; Sundaram, Rumya; Plotnikova, Anastasiya. 2020. Acute exposure plasma osmolality and plasma cholesterol concentrations. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/n7-ckr2-0703

Purpose:

The purpose of this dataset was to determine whether exposure to environmentally realistic concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) resulted in deficits in osmoregulatory capacity or changes in metabolism by measuring plasma osmolality and plasma cholesterol concentrations.

Data Parameters and Units:

Replicate fish ID, Plasma osmolality (mOsm/L), Plasma cholesterol (μmol/mL). The naming convention for replicate fish ID is where A = Treatment (X = Initial sample; C = control, 0.006 ug/L sum total PAH; L = low concentration exposure, 0.009 ug/L sum total PAH; M = medium concentration exposure, 0.06 ug/L sum total PAH; H = high concentration, 2.8 ug/L sum total PAH exposure); XXX = Fish number (1-152); B = Trial # (1 or 2); C = Fish state (Not stressed [NS] or Stressed [S]); D = Time sample taken in hours (h; either 4, 8, or 24) or days (d; either 3 or 7); Z = Period sample taken (either during Exposure [E] or during Recovery [R]). Please note - cross out = Fish died during the experiment; nd = data point not determined (oftentimes due to a bubble in the hemocytometer), not enough plasma for hormone assay, or issues with the assay.

Methods:

Plasma cholesterol concentrations were measured using the Total Cholesterol Assay Kit (Cell Biolabs, Inc.). Plasma osmolality was measured using a vapour pressure osmometer (Wescor, Inc.). The oil used in this study was oil from extensively weathered surface slicks taken by the ship Juniper during the active phase of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (Sample ID: OFS-20100719-Juniper-001:00979, 00919).

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