Physiological responses on the reproductive, metabolism and stress endpoints of Astyanax lacustris females (Teleostei: Characiformes) after diclofenac and ibuprofen exposure.

Diclofenac (DCF) and ibuprofen (IBU) are pharmaceutical compounds frequently detected in aquatic compartments worldwide. Several hazard effects including developmental abnormalities and redox balance impairment have been elucidated in aquatic species, but multiple endocrine evaluations are scarce. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the disruptive physiological effects and toxicity of DCF and IBU isolated and combined, using females of the native freshwater teleost Astyanax lacustris. In regards to NSAIDs bioavailability, the results showed absence of degradation of IBU and DCF after 7 days of exposure. IBU LC50 for A. lacustris was 137 mgL-1 and females exposed to IBU isolated increased thyroxine (T4) concentration at 24 h and decreased after 96 h; DCF exposure decreased triiodothyronine (T3) concentration at 96 h. Circulating levels of 17ß-estradiol (E2), cortisol (F) and testosterone (T) were not affected by any treatment. HPG and HPI axis genes fshß, pomc and vtg were upregulated after 24 h of IBU exposure, and dio2 was downregulated in DCF fish exposed group after 96 h compared to the mixture. Protein concentration was reduced in muscle and increased in the liver by DCF and mixtures exposures at 24 h; while liver lipids were increased in the mixture groups after 96 h. The study point out the capacity of NSAIDs to affect endocrine endpoints in A. lacustris females and induce changes in energetic substrate content after acute exposure to isolated and mixed NSAIDs treatments. Lastly, the present investigation brings new insights into the toxicity and endocrine disruptive activity of NSAIDs in Latin America teleost species and the aquatic environment.

Endocrine disruptive action of diclofenac and caffeine on Astyanax altiparanae males (Teleostei: Characiformes: Characidae).

Diclofenac (DCF) and caffeine (CAF) are persistent pharmaceuticals that occur in mixtures in the aquatic ecosystems causing effects in the reproductive physiology of aquatic organisms. This study evaluated the physiological reproductive responses of Astyanax altiparanae males exposed to nominal concentrations of DCF (3.08 mg L-1) and CAF (9.59 mg L-1) separately and combined, for 96 h. The steroids profile, estrogenic biomarker vitellogenin (vtgA), testes and liver morphology, and also mortality of males were assessed. DCF and CAF degradation was 5% of the initial concentration for 24 h. The LC50 of the DCF and CAF were 30.8 mg L-1 and 95.9 mg L-1, respectively. Males exposed to DCF and CAF exhibited a reduction of 17ß-Estradiol (E2) concentration compared to control (CTL). Similarly, testosterone (T) was also reduced in the DCF treatment, but this response was not observed in 11-Ketotestosterone (11-KT). Males exposed to DCF + CAF combined did not exhibit differences in T, E2 and 11-KT steroids. The vtgA gene expression and the sperm concentration did not change among the treatments. Moreover, acute exposure revealed a hypertrophy of hepatocytes cells in the DCF and DCF + CAF treatments. In conclusion, DCF and CAF, isolated, exhibit an endocrine disruptive activity in A. altiparanae male, an opposite response observed with the mixture of both compounds that abolishes the endocrine disruptive effects. DCF seems to be more toxic for this species, altering also hepatocytes morphology.