title: Copper acutely impairs behavioral function and muscle acetylcholinesterase activity in zebrafish (Danio rerio).
abstract: Copper is a heavy metal found at relatively high concentrations in surface waters around the world. Copper is a micronutrient at low concentrations and is essential to several organisms. At higher concentrations copper can become toxic, which reveal the importance of studying the toxic effects of this metal on the aquatic life. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the toxic effects of copper on the behavior and biochemical parameters of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Zebrafish were exposed for 24h at a concentration of 0.006 mg/L Cu. After the exposure period, behavioral profile of animals was recorded through 6 min using two different apparatuses tests: the Novel Tank and the Light-Dark test. After behavioral testing, animals were euthanized with a solution of 250 mg/L of tricaine (MS-222). Brain, muscle, liver and gills were extracted for analysis of parameters related to oxidative stress and accumulation of copper in these tissues. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was determined in brain and muscle. Results showed acute exposure to copper induces significant changes in behavioral profile of zebrafish by changing locomotion and natural tendency to avoid brightly lit area. On the other hand, there were no significant effects on parameters related to oxidative stress. AChE activity decreased significantly in zebrafish muscle, but there were no significant changes in cerebral AChE activity. Copper levels in tissues did not increase significantly compared to the controls. Taken together, these results indicate that a low concentration of copper can acutely affect behavioral profile of adult zebrafish which could be partially related to an inhibition on muscle AChE activity. These results reinforce the need of additional tests to establishment of safe copper concentrations to aquatic organisms and the importance of behavioral parameters in ecotoxicological studies.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Área de Ciências Exatas e Ambientais, Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó, Avenida Senador Atílio Fontana, 591E, 89809-000 Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriela M B
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Haverroth
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Área de Ciências Exatas e Ambientais, Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó, Avenida Senador Atílio Fontana, 591E, 89809-000 Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Chariane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Welang
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Área de Ciências Exatas e Ambientais, Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó, Avenida Senador Atílio Fontana, 591E, 89809-000 Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Riciéri N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Mocelin
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Área de Ciências Exatas e Ambientais, Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó, Avenida Senador Atílio Fontana, 591E, 89809-000 Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Postay
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Área de Ciências Exatas e Ambientais, Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó, Avenida Senador Atílio Fontana, 591E, 89809-000 Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kanandra T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Bertoncello
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Área de Ciências Exatas e Ambientais, Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó, Avenida Senador Atílio Fontana, 591E, 89809-000 Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francini
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franscescon
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Avenida Roraima, 1000, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA.
authors.forename: Denis B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Rosemberg
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Área de Ciências Exatas e Ambientais, Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó, Avenida Senador Atílio Fontana, 591E, 89809-000 Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jacir
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dal Magro
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Área de Ciências Exatas e Ambientais, Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó, Avenida Senador Atílio Fontana, 591E, 89809-000 Chapecó, SC, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Avenida Roraima, 1000, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus Caçapava do Sul, Av. Pedro Anunciação, 111, Vila Batista, 96570-000 Caçapava do Sul, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: crisbioq@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Cristiane L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Dalla Corte
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005880:Gills / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003300:Copper; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase
keywords: Acetylcholinesterase; Copper sulfate; Light–dark test; Novel tank diving test; Zebrafish