Pharmaceutical industry effluent diluted 1:500 affects global gene expression, cytochrome P450 1A activity, and plasma phosphate in fish.
Patancheru, near Hyderabad, India, is a major production site for the global bulk drug market. Approximately 90 manufacturers send their wastewater to a common treatment plant in Patancheru. Extraordinary high levels of a wide range of pharmaceuticals have recently been demonstrated in the treated effluent. As little as 0.2% of this effluent can strongly reduce the growth rate of tadpoles, but the underlying mechanisms of toxicity are not known. To begin addressing how the effluent affects aquatic vertebrates, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were exposed to 0.2% effluent for 5 d. Several physiological endpoints, together with effects on global hepatic gene expression patterns, were analyzed. The exposed fish showed both an induction of hepatic cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) gene expression, as well as enzyme activity. Clinical blood chemistry analyses revealed an increase in plasma phosphate levels, which in humans indicates impaired kidney function. Several oxidative stress-related genes were induced in the livers; however, no significant changes in antioxidant enzyme activities or in the hepatic glutathione levels were found. Furthermore, estrogen-regulated genes were slightly up-regulated following exposure, and moderate levels of estriol were detected in the effluent. The present study identifies changes in gene expression triggered by exposure to a high dilution of the effluent, supporting the hypothesis that these fish are responding to chemical exposure. The pattern of regulated genes may contribute to the identification of mechanisms of sublethal toxicity, as well as illuminate possible causative agents.
Gunnarsson
Lina
L
Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden.
Kristiansson
Erik
E
Rutgersson
Carolin
C
Sturve
Joachim
J
Fick
Jerker
J
Förlin
Lars
L
Larsson
D G Joakim
DG
D000818:Animals; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004345:Drug Industry; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D007220:Industrial Waste; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D017686:Oncorhynchus mykiss; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D007220:Industrial Waste; D010710:Phosphates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1