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Beegam A, Lopes M, Fernandes T, Jose J, Barreto A, Oliveira M, Soares AMVM, Trindade T, Thomas S, Pereira ML. Multiorgan histopathological changes in the juvenile seabream Sparus aurata as a biomarker for zinc oxide particles toxicity. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2020; 27:30907-30917. [PMID: 31376128 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-05949-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Zinc oxide nanoparticles are widely used in some domains (cosmetics, pharmaceuticals optical devices, and agricultural field) due to their physical, optical, and antimicrobial properties. However, the release of ZnO-NPs into the environment may affect organisms like fish with potential consequences for human health. Histological approaches of the acute effects of these materials on fish are scarce; thus, the present study aimed to investigate the potential toxic effects of acute exposure to ZnO particles in marine environments, by assessing histological changes in the gills, liver, spleen, and muscle of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) juveniles. Thus, fish were exposed for 96 h, via water, to 1 mg L-1 of ionic zinc and zinc oxide particles (1.1, 1.2, and 1.4 μm of size). Histological examination revealed gills as the most affected organ, followed by liver, muscle, and spleen. In the gills, histopathological changes included hyperplasia of epithelial cells, fusion of the secondary lamellae, and lifting of the lamellar epithelium with edema. In the liver, lipid vacuolation of several degrees, necrosis of hepatic and pancreatic tissues, blood congestion in sinusoids and hepatoportal vessels, presence of cellular infiltrate, and melano-macrophages diffusion was found. Muscle showed degeneration, atrophy, thickening and necrosis of muscle fibers with edema between them, and presence of melano-macrophages in the muscle layer. Spleen was the less damaged organ, displaying congested blood, white pulp increase/rupture, and bigger and darker melano-macrophage aggregates in the splenic stroma. These results underline that the size of particles plays a determinant role in their potential pernicious effects. A short-term exposure caused major histopathological changes in relevant organs of S. aurata juveniles, possibly affecting their function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asfina Beegam
- International & Inter University Centre for Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India
| | - Maria Lopes
- Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
- CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Tiago Fernandes
- CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Jiya Jose
- International & Inter University Centre for Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India
| | - Angela Barreto
- Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
- CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Miguel Oliveira
- Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
- CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Amadeu M V M Soares
- Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
- CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Tito Trindade
- CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Sabu Thomas
- International & Inter University Centre for Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India
| | - Maria L Pereira
- CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
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