Hélène Roche

Hypoxia, hyperoxia and exposure to potassium dichromate or fenitrothion alter the energy metabolism in Chironomus riparius Mg. (Diptera: Chironomidae) larvae.

Short-term (24 h) effects of four stressors (hypoxia, hyperoxia, potassium dichromate, fenitrothion) on the activity of the electron transport system (ETS) and total lipid, glycogen and protein contents were assessed in 4th instar larvae of Chironomus riparius. Hypoxia and hyperoxia caused an increase in ETS activity and protein content. Glycogen content decreased when larvae were placed under hypoxic conditions. ETS activity increased following exposure to 2 microg x l(-1) of fenitrothion. It decreased in larvae exposed to 20 microg x l(-1) of this insecticide. A decrease in lipid and glycogen contents was observed in larvae exposed to potassium dichromate or fenitrothion. Changes in ETS activity and lipid and glycogen contents may be related to the activation of the respiratory chain due to an increase in energy cost associated with homeostatic phenomena, such as detoxification processes. These results suggest that some parameters related to energy metabolism, such as ETS activity and lipid and glycogen contents, may be used as biomarkers of environmental disturbance in Chironomus riparius larvae.

Evaluation of waterborne exposure to oil spill 5 years after an accident in Southern Brazil

Fish (Astyanax sp.) were exposed to water samples from the Arroio Saldanha, locality of an oil spill, and the Barigui River (upstream and downstream of the confluence of the river and Arroio Saldanha), Brazil. Histopathological and biochemical biomarkers, as acetylcholinesterase (AchE), ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities, lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels, and amounts of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon residues (PAHs) in bile were evaluated. PAHs, metals, and surfactants were investigated in the water samples. CAT and GST activities increased in the Arroio Saldanha sample, whereas CAT activity and LPO levels were increased in the upstream and downstream sites. The results suggested a toxic action of the free radicals and disturbance of the antioxidant defense mechanisms. However, the EROD and AchE activities were not affected. Histopathology studies showed severe lesions. The oil is still bioavailable to biota, moreover, other pollution sources continue to affect the water in the Barigui River.

Accumulation of lipophilic microcontaminants and biochemical responses in eels from the Camargue Biosphere Reserve.

We assessed the impacts of persistent organic micropollutants on aquatic trophic webs in brackish and freshwater communities in the Camargue National Nature Reserve (NNR). We found that organochlorine compounds affect fish communities, particularly those of the common eel (Anguilla anguilla). The aims of this study were (1) to determine the amount of lipophilic xenobiotics such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are probably of atmospheric origin, and two organochlorines (OC), lindane and dieldrin, which are from irrigation waters, in liver and muscle (2) to define in situ biomarkers and (3) to identify the mode by which fish from ‘unpolluted’ areas become contaminated.All of the species were contaminated with low, but fluctuating quantities of PAHs and OCs, regardless of the sampling season. Lindane and dieldrin were always detected and naphtalene was the most abundant hydrocarbon. The OC and PAH content was rarely correlated with the lipid content in storage tissues and their concentrations in the lipidic fractions (neutral and polar) varied greatly. We found a number of correlations between persistent organic pollutant (POP) tissue concentrations and the activities of enzymatic membrane markers. For example, there is a relationship between the concentrations of the most volatile PAHs and the activity of muscle acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and between the concentration of benzo-PAH and the activities of ATPases in the gills and/or muscle.

In vivo effects of phenolic compounds on blood parameters of a marine fish (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were injected intraperitoneally once (single dose) or three times (fractionated dose) with phenol or OH-phenols (hydroquinone, resorcinol, and pyrocatechol). On the basis of the lethal doses, OH-phenols were more toxic than phenol, and pyrocatechol was the most powerful compound. Hematological, metabolic and antioxidant blood parameters were measured 3 days after the end of the treatment. Metabolic variations as specific effects on erythrocytes were revealed and differences between single and fractionated doses were observed. OH-phenols-treated fish showed disorders in the metabolic toxicity indicators as hypoglycemia, low blood urea nitrogen level (BUN) and decrease of alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP). In addition, quantitative structure-activity relationships were developed using the n-octanol:water partition coefficient (log K(ow)). Positive correlations were found with ALP, plasma glucose and hemoglobin.

Amino acid transport by intestinal brush border vesicles of a marine fish, Boops salpa.

The transport of glycine, alanine, methionine and alpha amino-isobutyric acid (AIB) was studied on brush border membrane vesicles of Boops salpa, a marine fish. This transport was Na(+)-, Cl(-)- and pH-dependent. In the presence of NaCl, the uptake decreased as the pH increased from 5.5 to 8.5. With Na2SO4, the transport of the four amino acids was strongly reduced and the pH optimum was 7-8. In the presence of NaCl, amino acid transport was described by high and low affinity kinetics. The K(t) of the high-affinity component was comparable for glycine, alanine and methionine (0.1 mM), and was significantly enhanced for AIB (0.6 mM). The J(max) of the low affinity component was significantly lower for methionine and AIB than for glycine and alanine. Lowering the sodium concentration from 80 to 20 mM significantly increased K(t) and J(max) of the high-affinity component of glycine transport. Moreover, the kinetics of AIB transport under 100 mM Na(+) were similar to glycine kinetics under 40 mM Na(+) and the two amino acids competed for the same carrier(s). These results suggest that chloride ions are essential in neutral amino acid transport in Boops, that multiple saturable components are involved in this process, and that sodium plays an important role in the differences between the transport kinetics of amino acids.

Characterization of superoxide dismutase activity in Chironomus riparius Mg. (Diptera, Chironomidae) larvae--a potential biomarker.

The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) isoenzymes were measured in fourth instar larvae of Chironomus riparius Mg. Three types of superoxide dismutase were identified: Cu,Zn-SOD in hemolymph and postmitochondrial fraction; Mn-SOD in mitochondrial fraction and presumably Fe-SOD in postmitochondrial fraction. The latter could have an endosymbiotic or a parasitic origin. Extracellular and cytosolic SOD activities, especially Cu,Zn-SOD, tended to increase in the last phase of larval development, independently of protein or hemoglobin contents. This supposes that SOD activity in Ch. riparius larvae is probably activated at the end of fourth instar stage. Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD activities showed a significant increase under severe hypoxia and slight hyperoxia. Oxygen radical scavengers such as SOD may play a role in the increased tolerance of Ch. riparius to oxidative stress. These results suggest that the specific induction of some SOD isoenzymes could be used as a biomarker of environmental disturbance such as oxidative stress initiated by xenobiotics.

Relationships between persistent organic chemicals residues and biochemical constituents in fish from a protected area: the French National Nature Reserve of Camargue

The Reserve of Biosphere of Camargue [French National Nature Reserve of Camargue (NNRC)] is a protected area frequently exposed to natural and anthropogenic environmental alterations. To evaluate potential contamination of fish with lipophilic chemicals-organochlorines (OCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)-a biological monitoring survey was carried out. Metabolic reserve levels were evaluated to select appropriate biological indicators able to be significant biomarkers. In addition, the incorporation of xenobiotic molecules in the lipid compartments was investigated. The contents of glycogen, total lipids, proteins and lipidic phosphorus were analyzed in liver and skeletal muscles of three teleostean: the European eel (Anguilla anguilla); the crucian carp (Carassius auratus); and the catfish (Ictalurus melas). The atmospheric origin of the PAH detected in any season in the biomass and the OCs compounds contamination by derive from agricultural treatments are established. In contradiction with some laboratory acute intoxication studies, we observe a positive correlation between tissue concentrations of contaminants and the muscular glycogen amount, a sensitive energy reserve marker. Moreover, it seems likely that the incorporation of these xenobiotics is located preferentially in the membrane structures.

Can we use stable isotopes for ecotoxicological studies? Effect of DDT on isotopic fractionation in Perca fluviatilis

Nitrogen and carbon stable isotope analyses are frequently used to assess contaminant biomagnification in animals in the wild. Previous studies, mainly on plant but also on animal tissues, have shown that chemical stress can lead to shifts in delta(15)N. In order to assess if an exposure to DDT at realistic concentration disrupted stable isotope signature in animals, delta(15)N and delta(13)C were studied in several tissues (liver, muscle, gill) of Perca fluviatilis fed with the same commercial diet uncontaminated or contaminated with DDT. We observed no DDT effect on the delta(15)N and delta(13)C of fish tissues. Our results show that stable isotopes can remain useful for field ecotoxicological studies despite food-chain contamination. However, correlations between the delta(13)C or delta(15)N values measured in the different organs were only found in DDT treated fish, suggesting some disruption of major biochemical compound metabolism in tissues.

Evidence of contamination by oil and oil products in the Santos-São Vicente estuary, São Paulo, Brazil

Different components of the mixed function oxidase (MFO) system and the levels of fluorescent aromatic compounds in bile (FACs) were measured in Cathorops spixii in order to assess the impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Fish were sampled in an estuary (Santos/Sao Vicente) with a history of contamination by PAHs, mainly due to the presence of the industrial complex of Cubatao city and of another of low anthropogenic influence (Cananeia) on the Brazilian coast. FACs were higher in fish from the polluted site, and the PAH 5 and 6-ring metabolites were the most frequent - with 14% and 15%, respectively. Levels of the different components of the MFO system showed the same variation profile as the FACs for both estuaries. Therefore, the values found for somatic indexes and biomarkers with data of bile PAH metabolites indicate the presence of organic contaminants, especially in the area subject to the influence of the industrial complex on the Santos/Sao Vicente estuary.

First Ecotoxicological Assessment Assay in a Hydroelectric Reservoir: The Lake Taabo (Côte d’Ivoire)

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) contamination was assessed in marketable species, two fishes (tilapia and catfish) and a prawn from the Lake Taabo (Côte d’Ivoire). Lindane and endosulfan were the main contaminants, suggesting their current use. DDT, endrin, heptachlor plus traces of chlordane, aldrin and fipronil were also detected. In fishes and in prawns, enzymatic biomarkers exhibited significant correlations with OCPs levels, showing the feasibility of a biomonitoring. The transfer of OCPs along the aquatic food web and their immunosuppressive effects in human are discussed. This preliminary study highlights that the pesticide contamination was concomitant with the increase in infectious diseases in the bordering population of this African lake.