Cytological and biochemical effects of a mixture of 20 pollutants on isolated rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocytes

Nano-TiO2 aggravates immunotoxic effects of chronic ammonia stress in zebrafish (Danio rerio) intestine

Ammonia and nano-TiO₂ are commonly found pollutants in aquatic environments around the world. NH₃ has been proved to be absorbed on nano-TiO₂ surface, therefore, the biosafety and environmental effects of ammonia and co-occurring nano-TiO₂ in aquatic environments has increased considerably in recent years. To explore the potential interactive effects and mechanisms of ammonia and nano-TiO₂ on the intestinal immune system, three-month-old female zebrafish were exposed to total ammonia nitrogen (TAN; 0, 3, 30 mg/L) with or without nano-TiO₂ (1 mg/L) for 60 d. The results showed that intestinal ammonia levels increased with the increase of TAN exposure concentration in the presence of nano-TiO₂. Histopathological analysis demonstrated that both TAN and nano-TiO₂ caused cell vacuolation, lymphocyte infiltration and goblet cells hyperplasia in the intestine mucosa. Our study also found that the contents and gene expression levels of lysozyme (lys) and β-defensin (def-β) in the intestine of zebrafish exposed to TAN alone or combined with nano-TiO₂ were significantly reduced, suggesting a decline in the intestinal innate immunity of fish. A broad upregulation of TLRs-related genes indicated that TAN and nano-TiO₂ could activate TLR4/5-mediated MyD88-dependent pathway, and eventually induce intestinal inflammation. It should be noted that TAN combined with nano-TiO₂ had more significant inhibitory effects on the intestinal structure and innate immune responses than TAN alone. Current data suggested that ammonia and nano-TiO₂ had a synergistic inhibitory effect on intestinal mucosal immunity, and their associated health risk to aquatic animals and the water ecosystem should not be underestimated.

The Protective Roles of Dietary Selenium Yeast and Tea Polyphenols on Growth Performance and Ammonia Tolerance of Juvenile Wuchang Bream (Megalobrama amblycephala)

In order to investigate protective roles of dietary selenium yeast (SY) and tea polyphenols (TPs) on growth of juvenile Wuchang bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) and its resistance under ammonia stress, juvenile Wuchang bream were randomly assigned into four groups: a control group fed basal diets and three treatment groups fed basal diets supplemented with 0.50 mg/kg SY, 50 mg/kg TPs and a combination of 0.50 mg/kg SY and 50 mg/kg TPs, respectively. After 60 days of feeding, growth parameters of Wuchang bream were measured along with serum hormones and the transcription of growth axis-related genes. Then fish were exposed to ammonia stress of 22.5 mg/L total ammonia nitrogen. Hepatic oxidative damage parameters, antioxidant responses and ultrastructure were evaluated before ammonia exposure (0 h) and at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after ammonia exposure. Results show that before ammonia exposure, the growth parameters, serum GH and IGF-1 levels as well as the growth axis-related gene expression (gh, ghr2 and igf-1) for the SY and combination groups were higher than those determined for the fish on the control diet. In contrast, the administration of TP alone didn't have significant effects on the growth parameters and growth-related hormones. After ammonia exposure, compared with the control, remarkable increases in the activity and mRNA expression of hepatic antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase and catalase superoxide dismutase) in three treatment groups were observed along with decreases of hepatic malondialdehyde and protein carbonylation levels, indicating that the single and combined supplementation of SY and TPs could enhance antioxidant capacity to alleviate oxidative stress and damage by ammonia. Consistent with this finding, alterations of the liver ultrastructure in three treatment groups were less severe and faster recovery than in the control group after ammonia exposure. In conclusion, a basal diet supplemented with the combination of 0.50 mg/kg SY and 50 mg/kg TPs could has very beneficial effects on the whole aspects of the growth and ammonia resistance in Wuchang bream juveniles.

Acute toxicity of commercial atrazine in Piaractus mesopotamicus: Histopathological, ultrastructural, molecular, and genotoxic evaluation

Aim:

The aim of this work was to evaluate the sensitivity of Pacu fingerlings (Piaractus mesopotamicus) by measuring the effects of median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of atrazine (ATZ - 28.58 mg/L) after acute exposure (up to 96 h).

Materials and Methods:

The fish were exposed to the LC₅₀ of ATZ for 96 h (28.58 mg/L) in a static system. During the experiment, the fingerlings were randomly distributed in four glass tanks (50 L) containing dechlorinated water. Four glass tanks were for the control group, and four were for the ATZ-exposed group (n=4 per glass tank), given a total number of 16 animals tested per group. The genotoxicity was evaluated by micronucleus (MN) test in erythrocytes from peripheral blood. Qualitative and semi-quantitative histopathological analyses, and also ultrastructural study, were applied in liver and kidney samples. Finally, the content of heat shock protein (Hsp70) in the liver was evaluated by the western blotting method.

Results:

The morphological alterations in the liver, which was associated with increased expression of Hsp70, included nuclear and cytoplasmic vacuolization, cytoplasmic hyaline inclusions, and necrosis. The kidney presented edema and tubular cell degeneration with cytoplasmic hyaline inclusion. The semi-quantitative histopathological analyses indicated that the liver was more sensitive than kidney to ATZ-induced damage. Ultrastructural analysis showed that ATZ caused membrane alterations in several organelles and increased the number of lysosomes in hepatocytes and kidney proximal tubular cells. Nevertheless, no significant difference was observed in MN frequency in erythrocytes comparing treated and control groups.,

Conclusion:

These results indicated that ATZ-induced damage to the kidney and liver function, ATZ at the concentration tested did not induce a significant difference in MN frequency in Pacu erythrocytes comparing treated and control groups, and also that Pacu fingerlings may be a good bioindicator for testing freshwater contamination.

Toxic effects of glyphosate-based herbicide, Excel Mera 71 on gill, liver, and kidney of Heteropneustes fossilis under laboratory and field conditions

The effects of glyphosate-based herbicide Excel Mera 71 under field and laboratory conditions were investigated to evaluate the pathological symptoms through light and electron microscopic study in the gill, liver, and kidney of Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) for a period of 30 days. Histological alterations like hypertrophy and fusion in secondary lamellae, damage in chloride cells were more prominent in laboratory conditions under light microscopy. Topological changes such as complete loss of microridges, swelling, and irregular arrangement of microridges in the gills were prominent under scanning electron microscopic study under laboratory conditions. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study depicted vacuolation and degeneration in chloride cells, dilation in rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), and mitochondria in gill epithelium. The liver showed enlarged and pyknotic hepatocytes, vacuolation, excess fat deposition, and necrosis under laboratory conditions, while enlarged acentric nuclei, increased sinusoidal space, and less vacuolation in cytoplasm were observed under field conditions. TEM displayed cytoplasmic vacuolation and a reduced number of endoplasmic reticulum and glycogen droplets in the laboratory, but this was less pronounced under field conditions. In the kidneys, loss of hematopoietic tissue, degenerative changes in glomeruli, proximal and distal convoluted tubule, and epithelial cell lining of the renal tubules were comparatively less prominent under field conditions. Under TEM, epithelial cell necrosis, endoplasmic reticulum fragmentation, and mitochondrial degeneration were more prominent under laboratory conditions. The present study evaluated the comparative toxicity under field and laboratory conditions under long-term exposure to glyphosate herbicide and identified pathological responses as indicators in monitoring the herbicidal contamination in aquatic ecosystems.

Cytotoxic effects of 4-octylphenol on fish hepatocytes

The present study was conducted to determine cytotoxic effects of 4-octylphenol (4-OP) on primary cultured hepatocytes of pearl mullet (Alburnus tarichi). Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, malondialdehyde (MDA) level, antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST)] and glutathione (GSH) content were measured after 24-h exposure to 4-OP. 4-OP caused dose- and time-dependent increases in LDH release. Significant induction of MDA level and decrease in GSH content were found. SOD and GPx activities were decreased while GST activity was increased. These findings suggest that 4-OP leads to cytotoxicity by depressing antioxidant defenses in fish hepatocytes.

Ascophyllum nodosum in the diet of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and its effect after inoculation of Aeromonas hydrophila

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Ascophyllum nodosum brown seaweed meal (FAM) on the health of Nile tilapia submitted to inoculation with Aeromonas hydrophila. The experiment was conducted for a period of 40 days using 120 Nile tilapia fingerlings, with age of 40 days, distributed in 20 tanks. A diet including Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed meal at 20g.kg-1 and a control diet (without FAM) were provided which constituted the treatments. Thirty days after beginning the experiment, A. hydrophila was inoculated by bacterial inoculum diluted in sterile saline solution at a concentration of 10(6) CFU ml-1. Except for the width, which was greater for the treatment with the provision of FAM (P<0.05), there was no influence on the performance parameters of the fingerlings, but the occurrence of lesions in animals inoculated with A. hydrophila and fed with FAM was lower and they also exhibited a decline in the lesions in a shorter period of time than the control group. FAM prevents hepatopancreatic congestion in infected animals. Ascophyllum nodosum brown seaweed meal reduced the number of lesions in fish in a shorter time when compared to the control group.

Toxicity screening of produced water extracts in a zebrafish embryo assay

Produced water is the largest effluent discharge from oil and gas/condensate production facilities in the North Sea. There is concern that contaminants originating from the reservoir and chemicals used in the production process may affect marine organisms. Developmental toxicity of extractable organic compounds in produced water effluents from oil and gas/condensate production platforms in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea was assessed in a temporal and spatial manner using zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. Large-scale solid-phase extraction (SPE) and on-column fractionation of water-soluble fraction (WSF) and an oil/particulate fraction was used in a rapid screening bioassay for embryotoxicity. Exposure to produced water extracts increased rate of mortality and reduced pigmentation and heart rate, as well as delaying time to hatch. The oil/particulate fraction was 10-fold less toxic than WSF, indicating that toxicity was predominantly produced by moderately polar and bioavailable compounds. Large spatial and temporal variation in produced water toxicity was observed, displaying considerable variability in the reservoir, oil well, and effluent composition over time. The noted toxicity did not correlate well with either reported produced water composition or parameters such as total hydrocarbons, thus challenging chemical measurements as a reliable source of information for predicting complex effects. Although embryotoxicity was observed following exposure to the extracts, dilution and transformation of produced water in the recipient are expected to rapidly reduce the concentrations of compounds in the effluents to levels below the thresholds of observed effects.

Enzymatic biomarkers as indicators of dietary cadmium in gypsy moth caterpillars

Heavy metals damage the structure, chemistry, and function of cells, including enzyme systems inside them. Variation in the profile of biochemical biomarkers in prevalent species should be used for assessing environmental contamination. The present study pays attention to the phosphatases present in the midgut of gypsy moth fourth instar caterpillars, which had been exposed to short- and long-term cadmium intake at 10 and 30 μg Cd/g dry food. Chronic cadmium ingestion significantly inhibited the activity of all examined phosphatases, while only the activity of lysosomal phosphatase was acutely decreased. Total acid phosphatase activity recovered from both long-term cadmium treatments within 3 days. The low index of phenotypic plasticity was connected to high variability of plasticity. Dependence of phosphatase isoforms on genotype and duration of cadmium treatment was determined. We concluded that, with further investigations, profiling of total acid phosphatase activity, as well as the lysosomal fraction can be used as a biomarker for acute sublethal metal toxicity.

Estimation of biodiesel cytotoxicity by using acid phosphatase as a biomarker of lysosomal integrity

Biodiesel is promoted as environmentally less harmful than diesel fuel. Nevertheless its water-soluble-fraction (WSF) may contain methanol, which appears by a reversion of the transesterification reaction, when biodiesel contacts water. This paper evaluated the loss of the lysosomal membrane integrity in liver homogenate of juvenils Tilapia exposed to biodiesels-WSF, through the increase of the acid phosphatase activity, as an evidence of citotoxicity. Differences in the enzyme activity levels (3.4, 2.3 and 0.8 mU mg(-1) total protein over the control value, which was 1.6 mU mg(-1) total protein), found for castor oil, waste cooking-oil and palm oil-biodiesels, respectively, were indicative of their toxicity according to this decreasing trend. WSF-chromatograms suggest the cytotoxicity as related to methanol.

Effects of exposure to Prestige-like heavy fuel oil and to perfluorooctane sulfonate on conventional biomarkers and target gene transcription in the thicklip grey mullet Chelon labrosus

Thicklip grey mullets Chelon labrosus inhabit coastal and estuarine areas where they can be chronically exposed to commonly released pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and perfluorinated compounds. These pollutants can also originate from accidental spills, such as the Prestige oil spill in 2002, which resulted in the release of a heavy fuel oil that affected coastal ecosystems in the Bay of Biscay. Peroxisome proliferation (PP), induced biotransformation metabolism, immunosuppression and endocrine disruption are some of the possible biological effects caused by such chemicals. With the aim of studying the effects of organic toxic chemicals on such biological processes at the transcriptional and at the cell/tissue level, juvenile mullets were exposed to the typical mammalian peroxisome proliferator perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and to fresh (F) and weathered (WF) Prestige-like heavy fuel oil for 2 and 16 days. First, fragments of genes relevant to biotransformation, immune/inflammatory and endocrine disruption processes were cloned using degenerate primers. Fuel oil elicited a significant PP response as proved by the transcriptional upregulation of palmitoyl-CoA oxidase (aox1), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (pparalpha) and retinoic X receptor, by the AOX1 activity induction and by the increased peroxisomal volume density. PFOS only elicited a significant induction of AOX1 activity at day 2 and of PPARalpha mRNA expression at day 16. All treatments significantly increased catalase mRNA expression at day 16 in liver and at day 2 in gill. Cyp1a transcription (liver and gill) and EROD activity were induced in fuel oil treated organisms. In the case of phase II metabolism only hepatic glutathione S-transferase mRNA was overexpressed in mullets exposed to WF for 16 days. Functionally, this response was reflected in a significant accumulation of bile PAH metabolites. WF treated fish accumulated mainly high molecular weight metabolites while F exposure resulted in accumulation of mainly low molecular ones. Fuel oil significantly regulated immune response related complement component C3 and hepcidin transcription followed by a significant regulation of inflammatory response related apolipoprotein-A1 and fatty acid binding protein mRNAs at day 16. These responses were accompanied by a significant hepatic inflammatory response with lymphocyte accumulations (IRLA) and accumulation of melanomacrophage centers (MMC). PFOS did not elicit any transcriptional response in the studied biotransformation and immune related genes, although histologically significant effects were recorded in IRLA and MMC. A significant reduction of lysosomal membrane stability was observed in all exposed animals. No endocrine disruption effects were observed in liver while brain aromatase mRNA was overexpressed after all treatments at day 2 and estrogen receptor alpha was downregulated under WF exposure at day 16. These results show new molecular and cellular biomarkers of exposure to organic chemicals and demonstrate that in mullets PP could be regulated through molecular mechanisms similar to those in rodents, although the typical mammalian peroxisome proliferator PFOS and heavy fuel oil follow divergent mechanisms of action.

Abnormal organelles in cultured astrocytes are largely enhanced by streptomycin and intensively by gentamicin

The effects of two aminoglycoside antibiotics on cultured astrocyte organelles were investigated in rat, sheep, and human cultured astrocytes using transmission electron microscopy. Marked changes in mitochondrial shapes were observed in cultured or subcultured astrocytes obtained from three species, including humans. As well, new types of organelles were observed: (i) numerous concentric membranes forming vesicles, which were termed multilamellar vesicles; and (ii) many vesicles gathering into membranous structures, which were termed multivesicular myeloid bodies. The number of abnormalities increased proportionally with increasing concentrations of the two aminoglycosides (streptomycin and gentamicin). The incorporation of peroxidase or albumin-gold complex in the abnormal vesicles showed that the endolysosomal system was involved in the formation of these vesicles. Our results show that: abnormal organelles are present in cultured astrocytes; these abnormalities are enhanced by streptomycin and gentamicin; and gentamicin induces more abnormalities than streptomycin. The binding of aminoglycosides to membrane phospholipids may explain the formation of the observed abnormalities in rat, sheep, and human cultured astrocytes.

Effects of experimental terbuthylazine exposure on the cells of Dicentrarchus labrax (L.)

The effects of acute exposure to the herbicide terbuthylazine (3.55, 5.01 and 7.08 mg l(-1)) on the cells of farmed European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax L., were investigated by means of light and electron microscopy. In gills of treated fish, the number of chloride cells (CCs) and rodlet cells (RCs) increased significantly within 24 h and 48 h, respectively; the intestine showed the largest increase in RCs linked to treatment and exposure time. In kidney, 24 h exposure induced a significant increase in RCs and the number and global area of macrophage aggregates (MAs). Treated fish displayed cellular and/or ultrastructural alterations in all the organs examined. In the gills necrosis, lamellar and cellular oedema, epithelial lifting, telangectasia, and fusion of secondary lamellae were encountered. The liver presented myelin-like figures, cytoplasmic rarefaction and acute cell swelling of hepatocytes. In both organs, the severity of damage was dose-dependent. In RCs of gills, the intestine and kidney of exposed sea bass, high cytoplasmic vacuolization, myelin-like figures, cristolysis and varying degrees of rodlet degeneration were observed. Extensive rodlet expulsion occurred in the gut lumen. Exposure to terbuthylazine also affected the renal tubular epithelial cells, which exhibited 'blebs'. Damage to the intestinal epithelial cells was also observed.

Anguilla anguilla L. oxidative stress biomarkers responses to copper exposure with or without beta-naphthoflavone pre-exposure

The redox cycling of heavy metals as well as their interactions with organic pollutants is a major contributor to the oxidative stress resulting from aquatic pollution. Therefore, in order to evaluate beta-naphthoflavone (BNF), Cu and BNF/Cu-induced oxidative stress with single and subsequent exposures, research was carried out in European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.). Eel gill and kidney oxidative stress biomarker responses such as lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and total reduced glutathione (GSH) to a single 24 h exposure to two copper concentrations (Cu-1 microM, 2.5 microM) and BNF (2.7 microM) with or without 24 h BNF (2.7 microM) pre-exposure were investigated. Cu exposure alone showed a significant gill GST increase at the lowest concentration and GSH content decrease for the highest concentration. Double BNF exposure in gill demonstrated a significant increase in LPO, CAT, GPX and GST, as well as a decrease in GSH content. However, in sequential BNF/Cu exposures, only the highest Cu concentration exhibited a significant increase in LPO and GSH as well as a decrease in GPX (vs. BNF + CW). In kidney, Cu exposure alone showed a significant CAT and GSH contents decrease for both concentrations, and at highest concentration in GPX; as well as GST increase at the lowest concentration. Double BNF exposure showed a significant increase in LPO and GST. Nevertheless, in sequential BNF/Cu exposures, both concentrations exhibited a significant increase in LPO and decrease in GSH contents. Moreover, LPO was also increased significantly in comparison to BNF+CW and the equivalent Cu exposures without BNF pre-exposure. Concerning GPX, a significant increase was observed at highest Cu concentration. In GST, a significant decrease at the lowest Cu concentration and increase at the highest Cu concentration was observed. Summarizing, a simple copper or BNF exposures have no ability to induce LPO in both gill and kidney. However, double BNF exposure induced LPO in both organs and sequential BNF/Cu exposures potentiated the risk of peroxidative damage occurrence in both organs. BNF/Cu interference on antioxidant responses differs between the studied organs. In gill, antagonistic effects were denoted with probable reflex in terms of peroxidative damage increase. In kidney, BNF pre-exposure prevented CAT and GPX inhibition by copper; though, no advantage of this effect was perceptible as defence against LPO generation. Considering BNF as a surrogate for a PAH and the detected interactions with copper, as well as the likelihood that these effects would be observed in polluted ecosystems, current results demonstrate their relevance to actual ecological exposures contributing to a better knowledge on oxidative stress mechanisms in fish.