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Common carp Cyprinus carpio responses to sub-chronic exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid

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Abstract

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is an important and diffuse perfluorinated alkylated substance, but knowledge of the toxicological effects of this endocrine disrupter in fish is limited. Adult common carp Cyprinus carpio, L. were exposed to 200 ng/l (a concentration reported in impacted aquatic ecosystems) and 2 mg/l PFOA solutions in a flow-through system for 56 days to determine tissue accumulation and histological alterations of the primary target organs. PFOA was extracted from blood, gill, liver, muscle, kidney, gonad, and brain by an ion-pairing liquid extraction procedure and quantified using high performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.4 ng/g wet weight (ww). PFOA was not detectable in unexposed fish or in fish exposed to 200 ng/l, but was >LOD in most samples of carp exposed to 2 mg/l. Mean PFOA concentration ranged from 0.5 to 65 ng/g ww, depending on the tissue, with highest levels in the blood and liver. There were no significant differences in condition factor, hepato-somatic index, or gonado-somatic index among the fish of the three groups. Histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical staining was performed on sections of liver and gonad. Occurrence of atretic oocytes and a paucity of spermatozoa were documented in carp treated with 2 mg/l PFOA. Exposed fish did not show gross hepatic anomalies, but there was enhancement of hepatocytes in proliferation (positive to anti-PCNA antibody) compared to controls.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to Dr. Mattia Lanzoni, Dr. Alice Lui, Dr. Samantha Squerzanti, Dr. Chiara Clementini, and Dr. Eugenia Passanisi for their technical help, to Dr. Maurizio Manera for statistical advice, to The Lucidus Consultancy for English correction of the manuscript. Part of this investigation was supported by grants from HERA Ferrara, and we are grateful in particular to Eng. Francesco Maffini and Mr. Massimo Mari.

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  1. Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, St. L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy

    Luisa Giari, Fabio Vincenzi, Bahram S. Dezfuli, Elisa A. Fano & Giuseppe Castaldelli

  2. Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, St. P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy

    Simone Badini & Cristiana Guerranti

  3. BRC Bioscience Research Center, St. Aurelia Vecchia, 32, 58015, Orbetello, GR, Italy

    Cristiana Guerranti

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  1. Luisa Giari
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Correspondence to Luisa Giari.

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Giari, L., Vincenzi, F., Badini, S. et al. Common carp Cyprinus carpio responses to sub-chronic exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 15321–15330 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6706-1

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