Oil exposure impairs in situ cardiac function in response to B-adrenergic stimulation in Cobia

Cardiac indices including stroke volume, heart rate, cardiac output and afterload pressures were collected for young adult cobia (Rachycentron canadum) after exposure to 0 %, 10% and 20% HEWAF (high energy water accomodated fraction) crude oil. Cardiovascular performance was varied using the β-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol and by controlling afterload pressures. Indices were collected using transonic flow probes and pressure transducers connected to Powerlab data acquisition hardware. This was connected to a IBM computer running Labchart v7 data acquisition software. All Labchart files were converted to .txt files. Water samples from the experimental treatment groups were sent to ALS for PAH concentration analyses.