Toxicity of hexachlorobenzene and its transference from microalgae (Chlorella kessleri) to crabs (Chasmagnathus granulatus).
The aim of this work was to study the transference of hexachlorobenzene from a green alga (Chlorella kessleri) to an estuary crab (Chasmagnathus granulatus), and to analyze the toxic effects that the xenobiotic has on the latter. The effect of hexachlorobenzene uptake was evaluated measuring oxidative stress, Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity and morphometric parameter alteration, and also performing a histological analysis of crab hepatopancreas. Results demonstrated that hexachlorobenzene enters the alga, is accumulated in it, and then transferred into the crab, causing a decrease in Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity in both organisms. The high malondialdehyde levels detected in crab hepatopancreas after the toxic treatment suggested the existence of hexachlorobenzene-induced lipid peroxidation. Antioxidant defenses such as superoxide dismutase activity and reduced glutathione content fell below normal values on the fourth week of treatment. At the same time, the hepatosomatic index, used as a morphometric parameter, reduced 20% with respect to the control. The histological analysis revealed epithelium disorganization in hepatopancreas tubules, confirming the existence of structural damage caused by hexachlorobenzene.
Chaufan
Gabriela
G
Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pab. 2, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina. gchaufan@qb.fcen.uba.ar
Juárez
Angela
A
Basack
Silvana
S
Ithuralde
Esteban
E
Sabatini
Sebastián E
SE
Genovese
Griselda
G
Oneto
María L
ML
Kesten
Eva
E
Ríos de Molina
María Del Camen
Mdel C
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D003386:Brachyura / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002708:Chlorella / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020387:Food Chain; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D043143:Hepatopancreas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity
D000975:Antioxidants; D015262:Xenobiotics; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione