Acute effects of Benzo[a]pyrene, anthracene and a fuel oil on biomarkers of the common goby Pomatoschistus microps (Teleostei, Gobiidae)

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2008

Authors

Vieira, LR (Author) Other; Sousa, A (Author) Other; Manuela F Frasco (Author) Other; Lima, I (Author) Other; Morgado, F (Author) Other; Guilhermino, L. (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: Science of the Total Environment

Vol. 395

Pages: 87-100

ISSN: 0048-9697

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 57 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 60 Citations

Pubmed / Medline

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-Z72

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.01.052

Abstract (EN): The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of two different PAHs and a complex petrochemical mixture on the common goby, Pomatoschistus microps, using selected biomarkers as effect criteria. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and anthracene were used as reference substances, while the water accommodated fraction of #4 fuel-oil (#4 WAF) was used as an example of a petrochemical mixture. P. microps was used since it is both a suitable bioindicator and a good test organism. Groups of fish were exposed to different concentrations of each of the test substances for 96 h and the activities of several enzymes commonly used as biomarkers were determined at the end of the bioassays. All the substances inhibited P. microps acetylcholinesterase (AChE) indicating that they have at least one mechanism of neurotoxicity in common: the disruption of cholinergic transmission by inhibition of AChE. An induction of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was found in fish exposed to BaP? or to anthracene, suggesting an increase of the anaerobic pathway of energy production. On the contrary, inhibition of LDH was found in fish exposed to #4 WAF, suggesting a distinct effect of the mixture. An induction of P. microps glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity was found in fish exposed to BaP or to #4 WAF, while an inhibition was observed after exposure to anthracene. These results suggest that GST is involved in the detoxification of BaP and #4 WAF, but not of anthracene. All the substances increased catalase activity and isolated PAHs also increased superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase activities, while #4 WAF did not cause significant alterations on these enzymes. These results suggest that all the substances may induce oxidative stress on P. microps, with BaP and anthracene apparently having more oxidative stress potential than #4 WAF.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14