title: Transcriptional and physiological response of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) exposed to urban waters entering into wildlife protected areas.
abstract: The mission of protected areas is to conserve biodiversity and improve human welfare. To assess the effect of urban waters entering into protected areas, we performed 48-h whole-effluent exposures with fathead minnows, analyzing changes in steady state levels of mRNAs in the livers of exposed fish. Raw wastewater, treated city wastewater, and treated wastewater from a university were collected for exposures. All exposed fish showed altered mRNA levels of DNA damage-repair genes. Fish exposed to raw and treated wastewaters showed down-regulation of transcripts for key intermediates of cholesterol biosynthesis and elevated plasma cholesterol. The type of wastewater treatment influenced the response of gene transcription. Because of the relevance of some of the altered cellular pathways, we suggest that these effluents may cause deleterious effects on fish inside protected areas that receive these waters. Inclusion of research and mitigation efforts for this type of threat in protected areas management is advised.
authors: Interdisciplinary Ecology Program, School of Natural Resources and Environment, Soil and Water Science Department, University of Florida, USA; Department of Physiological Sciences, Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
authors: Ignacio A
authors: IA
authors: Rodriguez-Jorquera
authors: Department of Physiological Sciences, Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
authors: Kevin J
authors: KJ
authors: Kroll
authors: Soil & Water Quality Laboratory, Gulf Coast Research & Education Center, Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences University of Florida, Wimauma, USA.
authors: Gurpal S
authors: GS
authors: Toor
authors: Department of Physiological Sciences, Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA. Electronic address: ndenslow@ufl.edu.
authors: Nancy D
authors: ND
authors: Denslow
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D062065:Wastewater / Q000032:analysis; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D062065:Wastewater; D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Cholesterol metabolism; DNA damage; Microarray; Protected areas; Wastewater