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Early biochemical biomarkers for zinc in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) after acute exposure

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Abstract

Contamination of aquatic ecosystems by metals causes various biochemical changes in aquatic organisms, and fish are recognized as indicators of environmental quality. Silver catfish were exposed to six concentrations of zinc (Zn): 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 12.5 mg/L for 96 h to determine the mean lethal concentration (LC50). The value obtained was 8.07 mg/L. In a second experiment, fish were exposed to concentrations of 1.0 or 5.0 mg/L Zn and a control for 96 h. Afterward, the tissues were collected for biochemical analysis. Lipid peroxidation, as indicated by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS), decreased in the liver and brain for all Zn concentrations tested, while in the gills TBARS levels increased at 1.0 mg/L and declined at 5.0 mg/L. Zn increased protein carbonyls in the muscle of silver catfish and decreased it in the other tissues. The enzyme superoxide dismutase increased in both exposed groups. However, catalase did not change. Glutathione S-transferase decreased in the liver and increased in the gills (1.0 mg/L), muscle (5.0 mg/L) and brain (1.0 and 5.0 mg/L). Nonprotein thiols changed only in brain and muscle tissue. Zn exposure inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the brain at both concentrations tested, but did not change it in muscle. Exposure to Zn inhibited the activity of Na+/K+-ATPase in the gills and intestine at both concentrations tested. Our results demonstrate that Zn alters biochemical parameters in silver catfish and that some parameters such as AChE and Na+/K+-ATPase could be considered as early biomarkers of waterborne Zn toxicity.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) for the support and facilities and the financial support and fellowships from the Brazilian agencies CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel) and CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Bioquímica Adaptativa e Toxicologia Aquática, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105.900, Brazil

    Jossiele Leitemperger, Charlene Menezes, Adriana Santi, Camila Murussi, Thais Lópes, Maiara Costa & Vania Lucia Loro

  2. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, Brazil

    Lygia Sega Nogueira

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  1. Jossiele Leitemperger
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  2. Charlene Menezes
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  3. Adriana Santi
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  4. Camila Murussi
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  5. Thais Lópes
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  7. Lygia Sega Nogueira
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  8. Vania Lucia Loro
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Correspondence to Vania Lucia Loro.

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Leitemperger, J., Menezes, C., Santi, A. et al. Early biochemical biomarkers for zinc in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) after acute exposure. Fish Physiol Biochem 42, 1005–1014 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-015-0192-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-015-0192-0

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