Acta Vet. Brno 2009, 78: 505-512

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb200978030505

Early Ontogeny, Growth and Mortality of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) at Low Concentrations of Dimethyl Sulfoxide

Jana Máchová1, Miroslav Prokeš2, Hana Kroupová1, Zdeňka Svobodová1,3, Stanislava Mácová3, Petra Doleželová3, Josef Velíšek1

1University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, Vodňany, Czech Republic
2Institute of Vertebrate Biology Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Brno, Czech Republic
3University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic

Received November 10, 2008
Accepted March 9, 2009

Dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) is an important polar aprotic solvent, less toxic than other members of this class. Because of its excellent solvating power, DMSO is frequently used as solvent for chemical reactions involving salts, especially Finkelstein reactions and other nucleophilic substitutions. Furthermore, DMSO is used as auxiliary substance in toxicity tests on aquatic organisms, usually at concentrations of 0.2 and 0.5 ml l-1. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of DMSO on early development, growth and mortality of early life stages in common carp. Tests were performed from fertilized egg to the end of the larval period with continuous exposure to DMSO at concentrations of 0.2, 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 ml l-1. Mortality of embryos and larvae, intensity of development and growth, weight and occurrence of abnormalities were analyzed. DMSO exposure at all the tested concentrations did not result in any lethal effects or abnormalities compared to the control over the entire test period (29 days). Growth indicators were similar in DMSO treated (at concentrations of 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 ml l-1) and control groups. However, mean body weight (35 ± 9 mg) of larvae exposed to the highest DMSO concentration (5 ml l-1) tested was significantly lower compared to the control (45 ± 14 mg).

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