Lipophilic antioxidants and lipid peroxidation in yellow perch subjected to various anthropogenic influences along the St. Lawrence River (QC, Canada).
In Lake Saint-Pierre (LSP), the last great widening of the St. Lawrence River (province of Québec, Canada), the yellow perch has been experiencing a significant decline since the mid-1990s. The combined effect of several stressors (deterioration of habitats appropriate for reproduction and growth, invasive species and poor water quality) seems to exert considerable influence on the yellow perch population in LSP, characterized by low recruitment. To better understand possible stressor effects at the biochemical level, LSP yellow perch were compared with other sites along a gradient of increasing human influences from upstream to downstream along the St. Lawrence River. Morphometry (size, weight, circumference and Fulton's condition factor) and biomarkers associated to the peroxidation of lipids, lipophilic antioxidants (α-tocopherol and carotenoids), along with retinoids (vitamins A1and A2) and proteins were compared between sites at the larval, juvenile and adult stages. Fulton's condition factor was similar between sites for juveniles but was significantly lower in LSP adults, suggesting a weakened physiological condition. In most contaminated sites as LSP, lipid peroxidation tended to be higher in juveniles and adults whereas the lipophilic antioxidant lycopene and proteins content were lower. Retinyl esters were significantly lower for LSP fish compared to other sites, not only in larvae but also in the livers of juveniles and adults. These results are consistent with possible altered metabolism in the retinoid system of LSP yellow perch. The overall results reflect the "pressure" gradient tested, where the yellow perch from the most affected sites located downstream had impaired physiological and biochemical conditions compared to the upstream sectors.
Centre de Recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN). Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), C.P. 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, Canada H3C 3P8.
Catherine
C
Landry
Environment and Climate Change, Canada, 105 McGill, Montréal, QC, Canada H2Y 2E7.
Magali
M
Houde
Direction de la gestion de la faune de la Mauricie et du Centre-du-Québec, Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs, 100 Laviolette, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada G9A 5S9.
Philippe
P
Brodeur
Centre de Recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN). Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), C.P. 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, Canada H3C 3P8.
Philip
P
Spear
Centre de Recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN). Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), C.P. 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, Canada H3C 3P8. Electronic address: boily.monique@uqam.ca.
Monique
M
Boily
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D049628:Body Size; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D060106:Lakes; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D000077276:Lycopene; D010471:Perches / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011792:Quebec; D012176:Retinoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D045483:Rivers; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D014873:Water Pollutants; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D012176:Retinoids; D014873:Water Pollutants; C024366:vitamin A2; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D000077276:Lycopene
Biomarkers; Carotenes; HPLC; Retinoids; TBARS; Tocopherol; Xanthophylls