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Cholinesterase activities and behavioral changes in Hypsiboas pulchellus (Anura: Hylidae) tadpoles exposed to glufosinate ammonium herbicide

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Abstract

In this study, amphibian tadpoles of Hypsiboas pulchellus were exposed to herbicide Liberty®, which contains glufosinate ammonium (GLA), for 48 h to the following concentrations: 0 (control), 3.55, 4.74, 6.32, 8.43, 11.25, 15, 20, 26.6, and 35.5 mg GLA L−1. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activities, as well as swimming capabilities (swimming speed and mean distance) were measured in tadpoles whose concentrations displayed survival rates >85 %. Our results reveal that sublethal concentrations of GLA significantly inhibited both AChE and BChE activities in tadpoles with respect to the control, showing a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect. The highest inhibition percentages of AChE (50.86 %) and BChE (53.02 %) were registered in tadpoles exposed to 15 mg GLA L−1. At this concentration, a significant increase of the swimming speed and mean distance were found in exposed tadpoles with respect to the control, as well as a negative and significant correlation between swimming speed and BChE activity, thus suggesting that this enzyme inhibition is related to an increase in swimming speed. Therefore, exposure of tadpoles to GLA in the wild at concentrations similar to those tested here may have adverse consequences at population level because neurotransmission and swimming performance are essential for tadpole performance and survival.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) [11220100100009], Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANCyT) [1522], and Curso de Acción para la Investigación y Desarrollo (CAI+D-UNL) [2011014]. We also thank two anonymous reviewers who made invaluable comments and suggestions and J. Brasca for English Editing Service.

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  1. National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Paola M. Peltzer, Celina M. Junges, Andrés M. Attademo & Rafael C. Lajmanovich

  2. Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Faculty of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences (FBCB-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje el Pozo s/n (3000), Santa Fe, Argentina

    Paola M. Peltzer, Celina M. Junges, Andrés M. Attademo, Agustín Bassó, Paula Grenón & Rafael C. Lajmanovich

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  1. Paola M. Peltzer
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Correspondence to Rafael C. Lajmanovich.

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Peltzer, P.M., Junges, C.M., Attademo, A.M. et al. Cholinesterase activities and behavioral changes in Hypsiboas pulchellus (Anura: Hylidae) tadpoles exposed to glufosinate ammonium herbicide. Ecotoxicology 22, 1165–1173 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-013-1103-8

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