The changes in common carp blood after short-term zinc exposure.

Blood zinc level, hematological parameters and blood cell morphology were evaluated in common carp immediately after 3 h exposure to 20 mg dm(-3) of zinc (Zn0), and in 24, 48 and 96 hours after the end of it (Zn24, Zn48, Zn96). Blood zinc level in the non-exposed fish was 8 mg dm(-3), reached a maximum of 20 mg dm(-3) in Zn48, while it dropped to 9 mg dm(-3) in Zn96. Zinc caused a stress reaction in fish indicated by an increase in hematocrit value in Zn0, and elevated plasma glucose level and trombocytosis which persisted until the end of the experiment.