Toxicity of erythromycin to Oncorhynchus mykiss at different biochemical levels: detoxification metabolism, energetic balance, and neurological impairment

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2019

Authors

Rodrigues, S (Author) Other; Antunes, SC (Author) FCUP; Correia, AT (Author) Other; Nunes, B (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Environmental Science and Pollution Research

Vol. 26

Pages: 227-239

ISSN: 0944-1344

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 8 Citations

Scopus - 12 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00P-VMH

DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-3494-9

Abstract (EN): During the last decades, the presence of antibiotics in different aquatic compartments has raised increasing interest and concern, since these compounds are usually persistent and bioactive pseudo pollutants. Erythromycin (ERY) is a macrolide antibiotic, prescribed for human and veterinary medicines but also used in aquaculture and livestock production. Taking into account the recorded environmental levels of ERY, its toxicity to non-target organisms has become a still poorly studied issue, particularly in fish. In this sense, this study investigated the acute and chronic effects of realistic levels of ERY on Oncorhynchus mykiss (rainbow trout), namely, through the quantification of the activity of enzymes involved in different biochemical pathways, such as detoxification (phase I7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD); phase IIglutathione S-transferases (GSTs), uridine-diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs)), neurotransmission (acetylcholinesterase (AChE)), and energy production (lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)). Both types of exposure caused significant increases in EROD activity in liver of O. mykiss; an increase in GST activity in gills after chronic exposure was also observed. UGT branchial activity was significantly depressed, following the long-term exposure. Thus, EROD, GST, and UGT enzymatic forms seem to be involved in the biotransformation of ERY. In terms of neurotransmission and preferential pathway of energy homeostasis, the exposed organisms appear not to have been affected, as there were no significant alterations in terms of AChE and LDH activities, respectively. The here-obtained data suggest that the observed alterations in terms of detoxification enzymes may have prevented the establishment of a set of toxic responses, namely, neurotoxic and metabolic disorders.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 13