Neurotoxic effects, molecular responses and oxidative stress biomarkers in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) exposed to verapamil.
Pharmaceutical drugs and their metabolites are detected in aquatic ecosystems and have been reported to cause ecotoxicological consequences to resident aquatic organisms. The study investigated the effects of acute and long-term exposure to verapamil on activities of acetylcholinesterase and antioxidant enzymes as well as mRNA expression of stress-related genes in brain and muscle tissues of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. The 96h LC50of verapamil to O. niloticus was 2.29mgL-1. Exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of verapamil (0.14, 0.29 and 0.57mgL-1) for period of 15, 30, 45 and 60days, led to inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activities in the brain and muscle of the fish. The activities of the oxidative enzymes such as the catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were also inhibited in both the tissues while there was an increase in the activities of glutathione-S-transferase and reduced glutathione in the muscle after 15 days at 0.29mgL-1. Lipid peroxidation and carbonyl protein showed elevated level, indicating a positive correlation with both time and concentration. The activities of energy-related biomarker (Na+-K+-ATPase) in both the tissues were significantly inhibited (p<0.05) compared with the control. Transcription of catalase (cat), superoxide dismutase (sod) and heat shock proteins 70 (hsp70) were up-regulated in both the tissues after the study period. Prolonged exposure to sub-lethal verapamil can result in oxidative stress, up-regulation of stress-related genes and neurotoxicity in O. niloticus.
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria; Aquatic Environment and Health Management Division, ICAR- Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, India. Electronic address: malajimo@gmail.com.
Malachy N O
MNO
Ajima
Aquatic Environment and Health Management Division, ICAR- Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, India; College of Fisheries, Central Agriculture University, Agartala, Tripura, India.
Pramod K
PK
Pandey
Aquatic Environment and Health Management Division, ICAR- Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, India.
Kundan
K
Kumar
Aquatic Environment and Health Management Division, ICAR- Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, India.
Nalini
N
Poojary
D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000633:toxicity*; D023681:Cichlids / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004350:Drug Residues / Q000633:toxicity; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000819:agonists / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D050050:Protein Carbonylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D036401:Toxicity Tests, Chronic; D014700:Verapamil / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D015415:Biomarkers; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D029941:Fish Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014700:Verapamil
Enzymes; Fish; Oxidative stress; Toxicity; Verapamil