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An integrated biomarker response index for the mussel Mytilus edulis based on laboratory exposure to anthracene and field transplantation experiments

  • Ecology
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Abstract

Organic pollution is a serious environmental problem in coastal areas and it is important to establish quantitative methods for monitoring this pollution. This study screened a series of sensitive biomarkers to construct an integrated biomarker response (IBR) index using Mytilus edulis. Mussels were exposed to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon anthracene under controlled laboratory conditions and the activities of components of the glutathione antioxidant system, and the concentrations of oxidative-damage markers, were measured in the gills and digestive glands. Anthracene exposure resulted in increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide radicals (O ∙2 ), indicating that oxidative damage had occurred. Correspondingly, anthracene exposure induced increased activities of glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in digestive glands, and GPx and glutathione reductase (GR) in gills, consistent with stimulation of the antioxidant system. A field experiment was set up, in which mussels from a relatively clean area were transplanted to a contaminated site. One month later, the activities of GST, GPx and GR had increased in several tissues, particularly in the digestive glands. Based on the laboratory experiment, an IBR, which showed a positive relationship with anthracene exposure, was constructed. The IBR is suggested to be a potentially useful tool for assessing anthracene pollution.

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Acknowledgments

We thank ZHANG Yongsheng from Rongcheng Municipal Bureau of Ocean and Fisheries for assistance with the field transplantation experiment.

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  1. College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China

    Mengqi Yuan  (袁梦琪), You Wang  (王悠), Bin Zhou  (周斌), Xiaoyang Jian  (菅潇扬), Wenlong Dong  (董文隆) & Xuexi Tang  (唐学玺)

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  1. Mengqi Yuan  (袁梦琪)
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  2. You Wang  (王悠)
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  3. Bin Zhou  (周斌)
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Correspondence to Xuexi Tang  (唐学玺).

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Supported by the Joint Funds of National Natural Science Foundation of China and Marine Science Research Center of the People’s Government of Shandong Province (No. U1406403)

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Yuan, M., Wang, Y., Zhou, B. et al. An integrated biomarker response index for the mussel Mytilus edulis based on laboratory exposure to anthracene and field transplantation experiments. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 35, 1165–1178 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-017-6092-7

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