Study of bioaccumulation of copper in liver and muscle of common carp Cyprinus carpio after copper sulfate bath

Common carp were exposed to two routine therapeutic concentrations of copper sulfate (10 mg/l in 1 h and 1 mg/l in 24 h). At different times after the copper sulfate bath (1, 2, 3, 7, 14 and 30 days), the copper concentrations in liver and muscle of carp was determined by means of an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that the concentration of copper is significantly higher in liver than in muscle in all groups (p < 0.01). Concentrations of copper in liver and muscle in long-term bath groups were also significantly higher than short-term bath (p < 0.05). The concentration of copper in the livers of the control group was 174.2 ± 5.2 mg/kg. This value was significantly lower than the experimental groups even at 30 days after long-term baths (p < 0.01) but was not significantly higher than short-term bath (p > 0.05). The concentration of copper in the muscle of the control group was 22 ± 3.2 mg/kg, this value was significantly lower than for the short-term and long-term groups (p < 0.01). In livers, copper concentrations in short and long-term bath increased to an average of 281.6 ± 17.1 and 397.8 ± 31.2 mg/kg, respectively, by day 1 of treatment and then significantly declined to 189.8 ± 9.6 and 203.5 ± 8.9 mg/kg by 30 days post-treatment (p < 0.05). In muscles, copper concentrations in short-term bath increased from 39.1 ± 4.7 in first day of treatment to 50.8 ± 6.5 mg/kg in 30th day, but not significantly (p > 0.05), while in long-term bath it decreased significantly from 127 ± 13.6 to 43.2 ± 2.7 mg/kg (p < 0.05).