Abstract
Hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) is widely distributed in the marine environment of Hainan Province, China and poses a potential threat to its mangrove ecosystems. However, the mechanisms underlying Cr-induced stress and reproductive toxicity in clams remain largely unknown. In this study, the clams, Geloina erosa, were exposed to 4.34, 8.69, 17.38 and 34.76 mg/L Cr (VI) for 24, 48 and 72 h. The gonad-somatic index (GSI) was determined and histological alterations of the ovaries were quantified by light microscopy. The micronucleus test was performed which quantifies the genotoxic presence of small cytoplasmic bodies in eukaryotic cells. Enzymatic assays for catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and malondialdehyde (MDA) activities were done. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to quantify the expression of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and vitellogenin (Vtg) in ovaries of G. erosa. The results showed that the micronucleus frequency was significantly increased when clams were exposed to Cr (VI). Cr (VI) exposure induced the accumulation of MDA and affected CAT and GR enzyme activities. The high Cr (VI) concentration of 34.76 mg/L significantly increased the levels of GR activity, GST expression and HSP70 expression and inhibited Vtg expression and CAT activity. MDA content was significantly increased after 72 h at the high Cr (VI) exposure (34.76 mg/L). Therefore, Cr (VI) exposure may be toxic to the development of ovaries of G. erosa.
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Funding
This study was supported by Science and Technology Basic Resources Investigation Program of China (Project Number: 2017FY100703), Outstanding young teachers program of the State Ministry of Education (Project Number: 002007007), Global Environmental Facility Study on degradation mechanism of mangrove wetland in Dongzhai harbor, Hainan province (Project Number: 41176084), Midwestern construction projects in Hainan University (ZXBJH-XK006).
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HM: Investigation, Formal analysis, Visualization, Revision. GW: Investigation, Writing—original draft, Formal analysis, Visualization. XF: Investigation, Revision. SC: Writing—original draft. JW: Investigation, Revision. BH: Conceptualization, Revision.
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The animal experimental processes were approved by the Ethnic Committee of Hainan University and conducted in strict accordance to the standard of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals published by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China in 2006.
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Mu, H., Wang, G., Huang, B. et al. Effect of hexavalent chromium exposure on the reproductive status and biomarker responses of female Geloina erosa. Ecotoxicology 32, 736–745 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-023-02668-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-023-02668-1