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Hematological changes and cytogenotoxicity in the tilapia Oreochromis niloticus caused by sub-chronic exposures to mercury and selenium

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Abstract

Fish bioassays are valuable tools that can be used to elucidate the toxicological potential of numerous substances that are present in the aquatic environment. In this study, we assessed the antagonistic action of selenium (Se) against the toxicity of mercury (Hg) in fish (Oreochromis niloticus). Six experimental groups with six fish each were defined as follows: (1) control, (2) mercury (HgCl2), (3) sodium selenite (Na2Se4O3), (4) sodium selenate (Na2Se6O4), (5) mercury + sodium selenite (HgCl2 + Na2Se4O3), and (6) mercury + sodium selenate (HgCl2 + Na2Se6O4). Hematological parameters [red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), and erythroblasts (ERB)] in combination with cytogenotoxicity biomarkers [nuclear abnormalities (NAs) and micronuclei (MN)] were examined after three, seven, ten, and fourteen days. After 7 days of exposure, cytogenotoxic effects and increased erythroblasts caused by mercury, leukocytosis triggered by mercury + sodium selenite, leukopenia associated with sodium selenate, and anemia triggered by mercury + sodium selenate were observed. Positive correlations that were independent of time were observed between WBC and RBC, ERB and MN, and NA and MN. The results suggest that short-term exposure to chemical contaminants elicited changes in blood parameters and produced cytogenotoxic effects. Moreover, NAs are the primary manifestations of MN formation and should be included in a class characterized as NA only. Lastly, the staining techniques used can be applied to both hematological characterization and the measurement of cytogenotoxicity biomarkers.

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The authors of this manuscript do not have a direct or indirect financial relationship with any commercial company mentioned.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Aquicultura, Instituto de Pesca, Avenida Francisco Matarazzo, 455, São Paulo, SP, 05001-900, Brazil

    Robson Seriani, Julio Vicente Lombardi & Maria José Tavares Ranzani-Paiva

  2. Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo, 455-room 1150, São Paulo, SP, 01246-903, Brazil

    Robson Seriani & Jôse Mara Brito

  3. Centro de Aquicultura, Campus Jaboticabal, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil

    Jakeline Galvão França

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  1. Robson Seriani
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  2. Jakeline Galvão França
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  5. Maria José Tavares Ranzani-Paiva
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Correspondence to Robson Seriani.

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Seriani, R., França, J.G., Lombardi, J.V. et al. Hematological changes and cytogenotoxicity in the tilapia Oreochromis niloticus caused by sub-chronic exposures to mercury and selenium. Fish Physiol Biochem 41, 311–322 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-014-9984-x

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