title: Environmental concentrations of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced cellular stress and modulated antioxidant enzyme activity in the zebra mussel.
abstract: Recent monitoring studies showed measurable levels of the 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in aquatic environments. However, no information is currently available on its potential hazard to aquatic non-target organisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential sub-lethal effects induced by 14-day exposures to low MDMA concentrations (0.05 and 0.5 μg/L) to zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) specimens through the application of a biomarker suite. The trypan blue exclusion method and the neutral red retention assay (NRRA) were used to assess MDMA cytotoxicity. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione S-transferase (GST), as well as the lipid peroxidation (LPO) and protein carbonyl content (PCC), were measured as oxidative stress indexes. The single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay, the DNA diffusion assay, and the micronucleus test (MN test) were applied to investigate DNA damage, while filtration rate was measured as physiological parameter. Despite significant decrease in lysosome membrane stability, hemocyte viability and imbalances in CAT and GST activities pointed out at the end of the exposure to 0.5 μg/L, no significant variations for the other end points were noticed at both the treatments, suggesting that environmentally relevant MDMA concentrations did not induce deleterious effects to the zebra mussel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy, marco.parolini@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parolini
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Magni
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Binelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004249:DNA Damage; D049875:Dreissena / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D050050:Protein Carbonylation; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine