ABSTRACT
In the present study, the sublethal effects of BDE-209 and its mixtures with BDE-47 and BDE-99 on goldfish (Carassius auratus) were investigated, and the biomarkers including acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in brain, catalase (CAT), ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver were determined after 4 days of exposure. AChE and CAT activities were significantly inhibited by BDE-209 and the mixtures at higher dosages (≥1mg/kg), and exhibited obvious dose-response relationships. EROD, GST and SOD activities were significantly induced by BDE-209 and the mixtures in most cases. Integrated biomarker response (IBR) was calculated by combining multiple biomarkers to single value and used to quantitatively evaluate the toxicological effects of PBDEs. The order of IBR values was BDE-209/BDE-99>BDE-209/BDE-99/BDE-47>BDE-209/BDE-47>BDE-209. It suggests that IBR might be a useful tool for quantification of integrated biological effects induced by coexisted contaminants toward fish.
Subject(s)
Biomarkers/metabolism , Fish Proteins/metabolism , Goldfish/metabolism , Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers/toxicity , Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity , Acetylcholinesterase/metabolism , Animals , Brain/drug effects , Brain/enzymology , Catalase/metabolism , Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1/metabolism , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/drug effects , Liver/drug effects , Liver/enzymology , Superoxide Dismutase/metabolismABSTRACT
Effects of river water from the Yangtze River (Nanjing section) on fish development, vitellogenin (VTG) induction, gonado-somatic index (GSI) and sex ratio were investigated by exposing goldfish (Carassius auratus) in the early life stage (from fertilization to 28 days post-hatch) to water samples (25%, 50% and 100%) collected from three representative sections. The results showed that there was no significant effect on hatching success for any of the exposure groups, but survival was significantly reduced when compared with the control (P < 0.05). Body lengths, weights of all treated fish did not differ significantly from those of the control. Condition factors (CF) of larval fish exposed to 50% and 100% river water from the Jiangxinzhou section and 100% river water from the Daqiao section were significantly lower than that of the control (P < 0.05). VTG inductions were significant in larval fish exposed to all the dilution series of river water. No significant difference in CF value was observed in any exposure group after 150 days of depuration. VTG was fully eliminated after 75 days of depuration. For both female and male, GSI did not significantly differ between exposure groups and the control after 150 days of convalescence. The highest female:male ratios were observed in response to the treatment with 50% or 100% river water from the Jiangxinzhou section and 100% river water from the Daqiao section (53:47, 56:44 and 54:46, respectively), but no significant difference in sex ratio was observed in any treated group when compared to the control. The results showed that early life stage exposure of river water from the Yangtze River (Nanjing section) had adverse effects on goldfish development and reproductive health, and the effects on CF and VTG were reversible after depuration in clean water.
Subject(s)
Estrogens , Goldfish , Growth and Development/drug effects , Rivers , Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity , Animals , Body Constitution/drug effects , Environmental Monitoring , Female , Male , Reproduction/drug effects , Sex Ratio , Vitellogenins/metabolismABSTRACT
Goldfish (Carassius auratus) bred in clean water were transferred into different stations in Taihu Lake for active biomonitoring exposures. The biotransformation enzymes 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), the antioxidant defense enzymes catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione content (GSH), and lipoperoxidation (TBARS) and metallothionein (MT) in liver were determined as biomarkers during the field exposure period. At the same time, the contents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and heavy metals in the surface sediments of biomonitoring sites were measured. The total concentrations of PAHs ranged 378.6-1047.8 µg kg(-1) dry weight, PCBs ranged 0.76-3.27 µg kg(-1), OCPs ranged 1.12-3.08 µg kg(-1), and heavy metal Zn ranged 31.82-85.04 mg kg(-1), Cu ranged 13.04-91.02 mg kg(-1), Ni ranged 4.96-28.66 mg kg(-1), and Pb ranged 9.33-22.44 mg kg(-1). The results indicate that persistent organic pollutants exist mainly in Meiliang Bay, while heavy metals are present mainly in Gong Bay. The integrated biomarker response (IBR) was calculated by combining multiple biomarkers to a single value and used to evaluate the toxically induced stress level of populations in different areas. The results demonstrate that Tuoshan and Mashan in Meiliang Bay as well as Dagongshan in Gong Bay showed higher IBR values compared to the other sites. IBR values were in good agreement with OCP concentrations.
