Milagrosa Oliva

Biochemical effects and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in senegal sole (Solea senegalensis) from a Huelva estuary (SW Spain).

Relations between several stress oxidative biomarkers and aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations have been studied in wild sole, Solea senegalensis collected in the vicinity of a petrochemical industry. Antioxidant enzyme activities in eco-toxicological studies constitute excellent markers for exposure to a large variety of pollutants. The 16 PAHs in sediment as well as oxidative damage (LPO), activity of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR) and PAHs type metabolites in sole liver were analysed. Significant correlations (p<0.05) were established between some biomarkers as GST, GPx and CAT and PAHs metabolites in liver (naphthalene, pyrene and phenanthrene) and PAHs concentrations in sediments (fluoranthene, acenaphthene, anthracene and chrysene). PAHs accumulated in the sediment and organisms are inducers of antioxidant defences. GST, GPx and CAT were robust biomarkers showing correlations with both PAHs in sediments and liver PAH metabolites showing different responses to low and high molecular weight PAHs.

Sublethal and lethal toxicity in juvenile Senegal sole (Solea senegalensis) exposed to copper : A preliminary toxicity range-finding test

Static bioassay test for acute toxicity of copper in Senegal sole juveniles (Solea senegalensis) was conducted. The 96h LC(50) value of metal was found to be 0.32mg/L Cu. The intensity of histological alterations was increased gradually with the copper concentration and the exposure time. Numerous aneurysms, hypertrophy, hyperplasia and fusion of the lamellar epithelium in gills and a disorganization of the hepatic parenchyma and vacuolization in liver were common lesions in S. senegalensis juveniles exposed to copper. The results of the study indicate the sensitivity of juvenile S. senegalensis to copper (II), the persistence of sublethal effects and histology as a tool capable of revealing the sublethal effects of heavy metals on the environment and aquatic biota.

Biomarkers responses in muscle of Senegal sole (Solea senegalensis) from a heavy metals and PAHs polluted estuary.

The biochemical responses in muscle, such as the enzymatic activities of acetylcholinesterase, lactate dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase, were studied in sole (Solea senegalensis) collected in Huelva estuary (SW Spain), in the vicinity of a petrochemical and mining industry. The sampling sites showed different type and degree of pollution. The results demonstrated significant differences in muscle activities of AChE and IDH in Odiel and Tinto Rivers compared to control fish. LDH activity did not show any difference between sampling sites. Significant correlations were established between some biomarkers and heavy metals: AChE was correlated with Pb, Cd and Cu concentrations in water; IDH activity was correlated with Cd and Cu concentrations in water and As, Pb and Cd concentrations in sediments; LDH activity was correlated with As and Zn concentration in water and Cd concentration in sediment. Only one correlation was established between the biomarkers analysed and the concentrations of PAHs: benzo(b)fluoranthene concentration in sediment and IDH.

Lindane toxicity on early life stages of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) with a note on its histopathological manifestations.

Eggs/embryos and larvae were exposed to nominal concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10mg/L lindane. High percentage of mortality was observed in larvae exposed to 1mg/L (76.38%) and in embryos exposed to 10mg/L (81.98%) of lindane at 24h exposure. The acute toxicity expressed as LC(50) 48-h was 0.122mg/L for embryos and 0.318mg/L for larvae. Larvae alterations included weak swimming, incapacity to respond to external stimuli, uncoordinated movements, trembling, myoskeletal defects, opaque skin and exophthalmia. Mucous epithelium of the digestive tissue showed a severe alteration with hypertrophy and desquamation of mucous cells. A high cellular disorganization in the renal and hepatic tissue is observed. Results obtained showed the sensitivity of Sparus aurata early life stages to lindane and the presence of sublethal effects like histopathological alterations; therefore, the relevance of pesticides substances control in the aquatic environment.

EROD activity and cytochrome P4501A induction in liver and gills of Senegal sole Solea senegalensis from a polluted Huelva estuary (SW Spain).

EROD activity and induction cytochrome P4501A in liver and gills of Senegal sole, Solea senegalensis, from a heavy metal and PAH polluted estuary, was studied. Liver and gill CYP1A catalytic activity was assessed at the enzyme activity level-measured as 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase and cellular localization of CYP1A in the liver was studied using immunohistochemistry. Liver EROD was correlated with phenanthrene-type metabolites in liver and copper concentrations in water. Strong CYP1A occurrence was observed in acinar pancreatic cells, pancreatic duct epithelium and vascular system endothelium and negative/rare induction were observed in hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelium. In gills, EROD activity showed a significant correlation with different fractions of heavy metals in sediment but no correlation was observed between EROD activity and PAHs. Strongly positive CYP1A associated staining of the vascular system endothelia and primary filament cells and a moderate staining of pillar cells in gills were observed. The results substantiated the utility of EROD activity and CYP1A induction measurement as biomarkers for use by aquatic toxicologists and indicate that catalytic assays and immunohistochemical assays appear to be sensitive to different kinds of pollutants being the use of both methods recommended for monitoring programs.

Evaluation of acute copper toxicity during early life stages of gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata.

In this study, the effects of exposure to copper (mortality and morphological alterations) on the early life stages of the gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata, were examined. Eggs/embryos and larvae were exposed to nominal concentrations of copper ranging from 0.0001 to 10 mg/L Cu (II) in the tests with eggs/embryos and 0.025 to 0.5 mg/L Cu (II) in the test with larvae. Duration of the assays was 48 hours for embryos and 96 hours for larvae. A high percentage of mortality was observed in embryos exposed to 0.1 mg/L (97.2%) and in larvae exposed to 0.5 mg/L (100%). The embryos proved the most sensitive to copper for the same duration of exposure. The acute toxicity expressed as LC50 48 hours was 0.054 (0.048–0.058) mg/L for embryos and 0.261 (0.182– 0.375) mg/L for larvae. Morphological alterations or abnormalities in embryos included irregular shapes of chorion, opacity and vitellus retraction/degeneration. In larvae we observed poor capacity to swim, trembling, myoskeletal defects, opacity and exophthalmia. Histopathological alterations are observed in S. aurata larvae. Mucous cells of the digestive tissue present a severe alteration with an increment of exudates. A great cellular disorganization in the renal tissue is observed. Results from this work indicate the high sensitivity of early life stages of Sparus aurata to copper (II) and the persistence of sublethal effects.

Trace metal accumulation in tissues of sole (Solea senegalensis) and the relationships with the abiotic environment

The distribution patterns and the organ-specific accumulation trends of 10 trace metals (iron, manganese, zinc, copper, chromium, nickel, cobalt, lead, cadmium and silver) and 4 major elements (sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium) in 10 different tissues (heart, muscle, kidney, stomach, intestine, liver, gill, gonads, white skin and dark skin) of a benthic fish species (Solea senegalensis) from a densely populated coastal area affected by anthropogenic activities, the Bay of Cadiz (SW Spain), have been investigated. High variability of metal concentrations among tissues were found for Ca, Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb and Ag. Factor analysis was applied to study this variability. Five principal components were found explaining the 92.95% of the total variance and similarities in behavioural patterns of bioaccumulation were described. They associated Mg, Cr, Ni and Mn to intestine and stomach tissues (PC1), Ag, Cu and Cd to liver (PC2), Zn, K and Co to gonads (PC3), Na, Fe and Pb to gill, heart and kidney tissues (PC4) and Ca, Pb and Mn to gill and dark skin (PC5). The metallic concentration in the sediment and water was also studied. The pollution in this area was found moderate with outstanding values of Zn, Cu and Pb (average values of 139, 50.4 and 75.6 mg kg−1, respectively) in sediment and dissolved Cu (average value of 2.5 µg L−1). Metal bioconcentration trends followed the order Zn > Cu > Cd > Pb for dissolved metals in seawater, Cu > Zn > Cd > Pb ≈ Mn > Fe ≈ Ni ≈ Co for metals associated to particulate matter and Zn ≈ Cu > Cd > Mn > Co ≈ Fe > Ni ≈ Pb > Cr for metals in the sediment. Higher values were found for copper in liver, zinc in gonads and lead in gill, showing the relationship between biotic and abiotic environment. In addition, Cd bioconcentration factors were found high in liver and gill showing the sensitivity of sole to this metal even at low concentrations.

Toxicity of lindane (γ-hexachloroxiclohexane) in Sparus aurata, Crassostrea angulata and Scrobicularia plana

The purpose of the present study was to research the sublethal and/or lethal effects produced by the exposure of fish and shellfish to the γ isomer of lindane, γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH). The teleostean fish Sparus aurata and the shellfish Crassostrea angulata and Scrobicularia plana, were exposed to 16 μ g/L of lindane for 15 days. Samples of different fish (liver, kidney and gills) and shellfish (gills, gut, digestive gland and mantle) tissues were extracted and processed for histopathological observations. Although mortality was not detected during the bioassay, sublethal effects (histopathological alterations) were observed. Vacuolization in the liver cells and lamellar fusion in gills from exposed fish were observed. Disorganization of normal gill structure, epithelial desquamation with the disappearance of apical ciliature in intestine, and inflammatory response in mantle from exposed shellfish were also observed. Thus, it can be concluded that the lindane concentration employed in the present research did not produce lethal effects in the exposed organisms but it caused sublethal effects. Lindane has time-dependent multiple toxic effects in S. aurata, C. angulata and S. plana, which were more severe at the end of the experimental time. The toxicological implications arising from these results are subjects for further multiconcentration tests dealing with lethal responses (mortality) or with sublethal responses (cellular/molecular biomarkers) of the aforementioned species.

Lindane toxicity range-finding test in Senegal sole (Solea senegalensis) juvenile: note on histopathological alterations

The purpose of this study was to examine the sublethal and/or lethal effects produced by exposure of teleostean fish Solea senegalensis to γ isomer of lindane, γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH). S. senegalensis was exposed to 0.1, 1 or 10 mg L−1 of lindane for 96 h. Samples of different tissues (gills, liver and kidney) were extracted and processed for histopathological observations. The 72 h LC50 value of pesticide was found to be 0.16 ± 0.04 mg L−1 γ-HCH. Histological observations including aneurysms and hypertrophy of lamellar epithelia in gills, blood stagnation and vacuolization in liver and alterations in the hematopoietic tissue in kidney were observed. The results of the study show the sensitivity of juvenile of S. senegalensis to lindane and histology as a reliable tool to detect the sublethal effects of pollutants on the environment and aquatic biota. The toxicological implications arising from these results are the subject for further multi-concentration tests useful in establishing water quality criteria.