Inhibition of gill Na+,K+-ATPase activity in the eel, Anguilla anguilla, by fenitrothion

European eels (Anguilla anguilla) were exposed to sublethal fenitrothion concentrations (0.02 and 0.04 mg/liter) in a continuous flow-through system for 4 days, Gill Mg2+- and Na+,K+-ATPase activities were evaluated after 2, 8, 12, 24, 32, 48, 56, 72, and 96 h of pesticide exposure, Results indicated that ATPase activity in gill tissue decreased as concentration of fenitrothion increased, Pesticide induced significant inhibitory effects on the Na+,K+-ATPase activity of A. anguilla, ranging from >56% inhibition at a sublethal concentration of 0.02 ppm to >73% inhibition at a sublethal concentration of 0.04 ppm, Eels were exposed to both fenitrothion concentrations for 96 h and then allowed a period of recovery in pesticide-free water, Samples were removed at 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 144, and 192 h and eel gill ATPase activity was evaluated, Following 1 week of recovery, the Na+,K+-ATPase activity for those animals previously exposed to 0.04 ppm fenitrothion was still different from that of the controls. (C) 1997 Academic Press.