title: Structural and functional changes in gill mitochondrial membranes from the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to tri-n-butyltin.
abstract: The use of tributyltin (TBT) as a biocide in antifouling paints leads to a ruinous input of this contaminant in the aquatic environment. Human exposure to TBT mainly occurs through ingestion of contaminated seafood such as filter-feeding mollusks. Tributyltin is known to act as a membrane-active toxicant on several targets, but especially on the mitochondria, and by several mechanisms. The effects of tributyltin on fatty acid composition, on Mg-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activities, and on the membrane physical state were investigated in gill mitochondrial membranes from cultivated mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to 0.5 µg/L and 1.0 µg/L TBT and unexposed for 120 h. The higher TBT exposure dose induced a decrease in the total and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially 22:6 n-3, and an activation of the oligomycin-sensitive Mg-ATPase. Both TBT concentrations decreased mitochondrial membrane polarity detected by Laurdan steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy. These findings may help cast light on the multiple modes of action of this toxicant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosamaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fiorini
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pagliarani
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nesci
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pirini
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tucci
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ventrella
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005880:Gills / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D049878:Mytilus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C011559:tributyltin; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases