Gill sodium,potassium-ATPase activity in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) from three reservoirs with different levels of mercury contamination

Liver, muscle and gill mercury concentrations differed significantly among largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) from 3 different reservoirs in South Carolina with similar water chemistry but different levels of mercury contamination. Mean gill sodium, potassium-ATPase activity did not vary among reservoirs and gill sodium, potassium-ATPase activity for individual fish was not related to liver, muscle or gill mercury concentrations. Liver and muscle mercury concentrations were related to fish size but gill sodium, potassium-ATPase activity was inhibited by exposure of gill homogenates to 0-10 umol mercury per litre with 50 per cent inhibition occurring at 0.5 umol. Although mercury could interfere with sodium, potassium-ATPase activity, there was no association between environmental exposure and gill sodium, potassium-ATPase activity in M. salmoides. There are 69 references.