Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to cylindrospermopsin and the effectiveness of N-Acetylcysteine to prevent its toxic effects

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Gutiérrez-Praena, D (Author) Other; M.A Risalde (Author) Other; Pichardo, S (Author) Other; Jos, A (Author) Other; Moyano, R (Author) Other; Blanco, A (Author) Other; Vasconcelos, V (Author) Other; A.M Cameán (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Toxicon

Vol. 78

Pages: 18-34

ISSN: 0041-0101

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 12 Citations

Scopus - 11 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-008-JNM

DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.11.014

Abstract (EN): Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a cytotoxic cyanotoxin produced by several cyanobacteria species. It has been demonstrated that CYN is a potent protein and glutathione synthesis inhibitor, and induces genotoxicity and oxidative stress. The present study investigated the protective role of two different doses of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) (22 and 45 mg/fish/day) against the pathological changes induced in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) orally exposed to a single dose of pure CYN or CYN from an Aphanizomenon ovalisporum CYN-producer strain (200 mu g/kg of CYN in both cases). Moreover, an immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was carried out in order to elucidate the CYN distribution in exposed fish. The histological findings were more pronounced when fish were intoxicated with CYN from the cyanobacterial strain, being liver and kidney the main targets for CYN toxicity. NAC pretreatment was effective reducing the damage induced by CYN, especially at the highest dose employed (45 mg/fish/day), with a total prevention in all organs. The IHC analysis showed that CYN-antigen appeared mainly in the liver and gastrointestinal tract, although it was also present in kidney and gills. In this case, the immunopositive results were more abundant in those fish exposed to pure CYN. NAC reduced the number of immunopositive cases in a dose-dependent way. Therefore, NAC can be considered a useful chemoprotectant in the prophylaxis and treatment of CYN-related intoxications in fish.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 17