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Zieri R, Franco-Belussi L, Oliveira CDE. Short-term effects of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in three distinct melanin-pigmented cell types of Anura. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2023; 95:e20211581. [PMID: 36946809 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320211581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Ectothermic animals present melanin-containing cells in their integument and viscera. Besides cutaneous melanophores, amphibians have melanomacrophages in the hepatic parenchyma and melanocytes in the viscera, which are also present in their testicular stroma. The native melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is the main hormone that modulates the color change in melanophores. However, we still know too little about how the α-MSH acts in vivo on visceral melanin-containing cells. In this study, we collected 30 adult males of Physalaemus nattereri (Anura, Leptodactylidae) to evaluate the short-term effects of α-MSH on melanophores, melanocytes and melanomacrophages under light microscopy. For this, we injected 0.05 ml of a single intraperitoneal dose containing 2.5x10-7 mmol/10g of α-MSH, diluted in ringer solution, in five experimental groups with five individuals each one. The different groups were analyzed after 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24h. The control group with five other individuals received only 0.05 ml of ringer solution. The skin pigmentation increased quickly after animals received the hormone α-MSH with the consequent darkening of the body (body darkness). Melanophores, melanocytes and melanomacrophages responded similarly to the test, with an increase in the area containing melanin. However, melanophores and melanomacrophages reached their darkest pigmentation in a shorter period of time in comparison to the testicular melanocytes, probably due to specific metabolic characteristics of each organ. Thus, we verified that the three types of cells, although present in different organs, are responsive to the native hormone α-MSH, which enables us to treat them as a pigmentary system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Zieri
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de São Paulo/IFSP, Laboratório de Zoologia e Anatomia Animal Comparada, Avenida C-Um, 250, 14781-502 Barretos, SP, Brazil
| | - Lilian Franco-Belussi
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul/UFMS, Laboratório de Patologia Experimental (LAPEx), Instituto de Biociências, s/n, Universitário, 79002-970 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Classius DE Oliveira
- Universidade Estadual Paulista/IBILCE/UNESP, Departamento de Biologia, Laboratório de Anatomia Comparativa, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265, 15054-000 São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
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Malinowski CR, Stacy NI, Coleman FC, Cusick JA, Dugan CM, Koenig CC, Ragbeer NK, Perrault JR. Mercury offloading in gametes and potential adverse effects of high mercury concentrations in blood and tissues of Atlantic Goliath Grouper Epinephelus itajara in the southeastern United States. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 779:146437. [PMID: 33744588 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous and non-essential heavy metal that is highly toxic to aquatic organisms. Few studies examine Hg and its effects on wild fish populations. Here, we investigated the potential effects of Hg exposure on a large and long-lived marine species of conservation concern, the vulnerable Atlantic Goliath Grouper Epinephelus itajara. Our objectives were (1) to measure Hg (methyl-Hg; and total Hg = combined methyl-Hg and inorganic-Hg) concentrations in whole blood (WB) and gametes (eggs and sperm); (2) to investigate the relationships between Hg concentrations in muscle and liver with WB and gametes; (3) to investigate the relationships between Hg concentrations in liver, muscle, and WB with hematological and plasma biochemical analytes; and (4) to investigate the relationship between liver Hg and pigmented macrophage aggregates in liver tissue sections. We found several lines of evidence for potential adverse effects on Goliath Grouper health and reproduction by high Hg concentrations in liver, muscle, WB, and gametes, including (1) Hg concentrations in all tissues and gametes were well above observable ranges of marine and freshwater fishes from experimental exposure studies; (2) gamete Hg concentrations were among the highest recorded in wild fishes, with seasonal patterns suggesting females offload significant amounts of Hg into their eggs during the spawning season; (3) Methyl-Hg was highest in muscle, followed by sperm, liver, eggs, and WB; (4) there were significant correlations between liver, muscle, and WB Hg concentrations with various blood analytes; (5) vitellogenin positively correlated with female liver methyl-Hg concentrations, and was abnormally high in males, suggesting direct endocrine effects; and (6) liver total Hg positively correlated with pigmented macrophage aggregate count and percent area. This work will help guide future research examining the potential adverse effects of Hg and its role as an additional stressor on wild fish populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Malinowski
- Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory, 3618 Coastal Highway 98, St. Teresa, FL 32358, USA; Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, 319 Stadium Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA; Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 195 Marsteller Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2061, USA.
| | - Nicole I Stacy
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 Southwest 16th Avenue, PO Box 100136, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Felicia C Coleman
- Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory, 3618 Coastal Highway 98, St. Teresa, FL 32358, USA
| | - Jessica A Cusick
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, 319 Stadium Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA; Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E 3rd St, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Carle M Dugan
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, 319 Stadium Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Christopher C Koenig
- Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory, 3618 Coastal Highway 98, St. Teresa, FL 32358, USA
| | - Natassjia K Ragbeer
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, 319 Stadium Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Justin R Perrault
- Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA; Loggerhead Marinelife Center, 14200 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach, FL 33408, USA
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Perspectives on Complexity, Chaos and Thermodynamics in Environmental Pathology. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18115766. [PMID: 34072059 PMCID: PMC8199338 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18115766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Though complexity science and chaos theory have become a common scientific divulgation theme, medical disciplines, and pathology in particular, still rely on a deterministic, reductionistic approach and still hesitate to fully appreciate the intrinsic complexity of living beings. Herein, complexity, chaos and thermodynamics are introduced with specific regard to biomedical sciences, then their interconnections and implications in environmental pathology are discussed, with particular regard to a morphopathological, image analysis-based approach to biological interfaces. Biomedical disciplines traditionally approach living organisms by dissecting them ideally down to the molecular level in order to gain information about possible molecule to molecule interactions, to derive their macroscopic behaviour. Given the complex and chaotic behaviour of living systems, this approach is extremely limited in terms of obtainable information and may lead to misinterpretation. Environmental pathology, as a multidisciplinary discipline, should grant privilege to an integrated, possibly systemic approach, prone to manage the complex and chaotic aspects characterizing living organisms. Ultimately, environmental pathology should be interested in improving the well-being of individuals and the population, and ideally the health of the entire ecosystem/biosphere and should not focus merely on single diseases, diseased organs/tissues, cells and/or molecules.
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Manera M, Castaldelli G, Fano EA, Giari L. Perfluorooctanoic acid-induced cellular and subcellular alterations in fish hepatocytes. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2021; 81:103548. [PMID: 33188888 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2020.103548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Liver perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) pathophysiology and related morphofunction disturbances were studied in common carp at the cellular and subcellular level and with box-counting fractal analysis of ultrathin sections to assess the effect of PFOA exposure on hepatocyte structure complexity and heterogeneity. Three experimental groups were investigated: unexposed; low exposure (200 ng L-1 PFOA); high exposure (2 mg L-1 PFOA). PFOA-exposed cells showed differences from controls at both tested concentrations, manifested mainly as cloudy swelling and reversible vacuolar degeneration. Subcellular modifications primarily involved mitochondria and secondarily endoplasmic reticulum, with evidence of increased subcellular turnover. The alterations were consistent with oxidative stress related pathophysiology. Fractal analysis discriminated exposed from unexposed fish and low from high PFOA exposure based on lacunarity and fractal dimension, respectively. The absence of irreversible organelle alterations and apoptosis/necrosis, along with the increase of cellular complexity, led to the conclusion that the patterns observed represented an adaptive recovery response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Manera
- Faculty of Biosciences, Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, St. R. Balzarini 1, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Castaldelli
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, St. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elisa A Fano
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, St. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Luisa Giari
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, St. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
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Malinowski CR, Perrault JR, Coleman FC, Koenig CC, Stilwell JM, Cray C, Stacy NI. The Iconic Atlantic Goliath Grouper ( Epinephelus itajara): A Comprehensive Assessment of Health Indices in the Southeastern United States Population. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:635. [PMID: 33102560 PMCID: PMC7546827 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The Atlantic Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara) population has rebounded from near extinction to an international status as vulnerable due in part to regional species recovery efforts. The southeastern US population has been recovering with the main spawning locations off the coasts of Florida. Despite their economic importance to the catch-and-release fishery and the dive industry, and their ecological importance as ecosystem engineers resulting in positive impacts on reefs and species richness, baseline health assessment information is very limited in this species to date. The objectives of this study were to: (1) establish reference intervals for hematological and plasma biochemical analytes, and report immune function, oxidative stress, and vitellogenin in mature males and females; (2) evaluate total length, age, and sex in relation to blood analytes in juvenile and mature fish; (3) assess analytes across sampled months in mature male and female fish; and (4) describe the typical light microscopy findings in liver and gill biopsies, including quantitative assessment of pigmented macrophage aggregates. Health indices are reported as reference intervals when applicable, or otherwise descriptively. Blood analyte correlations with length and age, sex differences, and comparisons across months provided relevant physiological considerations, including differences in protein/energy metabolism, tissue growth, sexual maturation, active reproduction, and antigenic stimulation. Liver histology identified changes associated with life stage, active reproduction, or of subclinically to clinically insignificant infectious and/or inflammatory processes. Hepatocellular vacuolation and pigmented macrophage aggregates were prominent. Pigmented macrophage aggregates correlated with total length, presumably from continuous antigenic stimulation and/or metabolic changes as fish grow. Gill histological findings were subtle. The data presented herein provide an essential baseline assessment of a suite of health variables in an iconic marine teleost species, serves as a springboard for future studies relevant to conservation physiology, and allows for population-level applications for conservation management and policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Malinowski
- Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory, St. Teresa, FL, United States.,Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States.,Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Justin R Perrault
- Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL, United States.,Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach, FL, United States
| | - Felicia C Coleman
- Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory, St. Teresa, FL, United States
| | - Christopher C Koenig
- Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory, St. Teresa, FL, United States
| | - Justin M Stilwell
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Carolyn Cray
- Division of Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Nicole I Stacy
- Division of Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States.,Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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Wu C, An B, Meng T, Chen M. The application of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatments of gastralgia caused by deficient cold of spleen and stomach based on document analysis and data analysis (Preprint). JMIR Med Inform 2020. [DOI: 10.2196/19051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Manera M, Sayyaf Dezfuli B, Castaldelli G, DePasquale JA, Fano EA, Martino C, Giari L. Perfluorooctanoic Acid Exposure Assessment on Common Carp Liver through Image and Ultrastructural Investigation. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:E4923. [PMID: 31817419 PMCID: PMC6950721 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16244923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) poses particular concern as an emerging pollutant in both surface and ground waters. Fish, as a natural inhabitant of these waters and being highly representative of vertebrates, represents an ideal animal model to assess the toxic effects of PFOA. Hereby, liver microscopic texture was comparatively evaluated in individuals of common carp subchronically exposed to PFOA using grayscale differential box counting, a fractal analysis method. Furthermore, liver cytoplasmic glycogen areas and ultrastructure were also evaluated and compared to the image analysis findings. Redundancy Analysis was performed to assess, in summary, how much the variation of fractal dimension and lacunarity was explained by the concentration of PFOA in liver, the mass of liver and the number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-immunoreactive nuclei. Treatment group ordination was better determined by fractal dimension than lacunarity. Interestingly, a significant complexity increase was associated with the modification of liver microscopic texture due to PFOA exposure. This complexity increase was related to "cloudy swelling", possibly representing a primarily adaptive strategy against PFOA challenge, rather than a slight, reversible form of degeneration as traditionally proposed. The occurrence of endoplasmic reticulum stress, unfolded protein reaction and hormetic response was proposed and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Manera
- Faculty of Biosciences, Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, St. R. Balzarini 1, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Bahram Sayyaf Dezfuli
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, St. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (B.S.D.); (G.C.); (E.A.F.); (L.G.)
| | - Giuseppe Castaldelli
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, St. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (B.S.D.); (G.C.); (E.A.F.); (L.G.)
| | | | - Elisa Anna Fano
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, St. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (B.S.D.); (G.C.); (E.A.F.); (L.G.)
| | - Camillo Martino
- Department of Veterinary, University of Perugia, St. San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Luisa Giari
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, St. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (B.S.D.); (G.C.); (E.A.F.); (L.G.)
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Matsche MA, Blazer VS, Mazik PM. Comparisons of Stereological and Other Approaches for Quantifying Macrophage Aggregates in Piscine Spleens. JOURNAL OF AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH 2019; 31:328-348. [PMID: 31634422 DOI: 10.1002/aah.10086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Macrophage aggregates (MAs) are focal accumulations of pigmented macrophages in the spleen and other tissues of fish. A central role of MAs is the clearance and destruction of degenerating cells and recycling of some cellular components. Macrophage aggregates also respond to chemical contaminants and infectious agents and may play a role in the adaptive immune response. Tissue damage or physiological stress can result in increased MA accumulation. As a result, MAs may be sensitive biomarkers of environmental stress in fish. Abundance of MAs in tissues has been reported in a variety of ways-most commonly as density, mean size, and relative area-but the utility of these estimates has not been compared. In this study, four different types of splenic MA abundance estimates (abundance score, density, relative area, and total volume) were compared in two fish populations (Striped Bass Morone saxatilis and White Perch M. americana) with a wide range in ages. Stereological estimates of total volume indicated an increase in MA abundance with spleen volume, which generally corresponded to fish age, and with splenic infections (mycobacteria or trematode parasites). Abundance scores were generally limited in the ability to detect changes in MA abundance by these factors, whereas density estimates were greatly influenced by changes in spleen volume. In some instances, densities declined while the total volume of MAs and spleen volume increased. Experimentally induced acute stress resulted in a decrease in spleen volume and an increase in MA density, although the total volume of MAs remained unchanged. Relative area estimates accounted for the size and number of MAs but not for changes in organ volume. Total volume is an absolute measure of MA abundance irrespective of changes in organ volume or patterns of accumulation and may provide an improved means of quantifying MAs in the spleens of fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Matsche
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Cooperative Oxford Laboratory, 904 South Morris Street, Oxford, Maryland, 21654, USA
| | - Vicki S Blazer
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, West Virginia, 25430, USA
| | - Patricia M Mazik
- U.S. Geological Survey, West Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, West Virginia University, 322 Percival Hall, Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506, USA
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