RESUMO

Petroleum hydrocarbons are one of the primary organic chemicals found in water bodies, and the water-soluble fraction of petroleum (WSFP) may be responsible for much of the toxic effects. In the present study, genotoxicity assays and histopathological analysis of the gills were analyzed for two experimental protocols: 1) Juvenile Centropomus parallelus were exposed to different concentrations of WFSP (0%, 25%, 50% and 75%) for 96h; 2) A second fish group was exposed to 50% WFSP for 168h followed by a post-exposure period for 168h in clean water (recovery). The total benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene (BTEX) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations at time 0 were 254µgL-1 and 4.72µgL-1 in 25%; 552.9µgL-1 and 9.36µgL-1 in 50%; and 842.4µgL-1 and 9.97µgL-1 in 75% WSFP, respectively. Based on the alkaline comet assay, the damage index (DI) values of fish exposed to 25% WSFP for 96h were significantly higher than those in the control group, and in the micronucleus test, the higher damage values were found in fish exposed to 75% WSFP. Furthermore, this last genotoxic test showed recovery after 168h. At all concentrations of WSFP, several histopathological changes were observed, and overall, most of these changes observed in the gills were classified as proliferative changes and represented a protective mechanism against pollutant uptake. Based on the recovery experiment, the damage was also significantly reduced after recovery. Our results showed that short-term exposure to WSFP compounds triggered cellular alterations in C. parallelus, but total recovery did not occur with time. Additionally, the different periods of exposure were not sufficient to induce severe gill damage in C. parallelus. Moreover, this fish demonstrated its usefulness as a sentinel species.

Assuntos

RESUMO

This study explored the suitability of the seahorse Hippocampus reidi (Ginsburg, 1933) for assessing biomarkers of genotoxic effects and its use as a sentinel organism to detect the effects of acute exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons. Fish were exposed to three concentrations of crude oil (10, 20 and 30 g/kg) for 96 h, and the activity of phase II biotransformation enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST) was measured. In addition, we performed genotoxicity assays, such as comet assay, micronucleus (MN) test and nuclear abnormalities (NA) induction, on the erythrocytes of the fish species. Our results revealed that the inhibition of hepatic GST activity in H. reidi was dependent on increasing crude oil concentrations. In contrast, an increase in the damage index (DI) and MN frequency were observed with increased crude oil concentrations. These results indicate that the alkaline comet assay and micronucleus test were suitable and useful in the evaluation of the genotoxicity of crude oil, which could improve determinations of the impact of oil spills on fish populations. In addition, H. reidi is a promising "sentinel organism" to detect the genotoxic impact of petroleum hydrocarbons.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The aim of this study was to identify the times of anesthetic induction and recovery in slender seahorses (Hippocampus reidi) that were exposed to the essential oil of Lippia alba (EO), as well as the efficacy of EO as a stress-reducing agent in the transport of this species. Slender seahorses were placed in 1-L aquaria containing different concentrations of EO (0, 10, 20, 50, 150, 300 and 450 µL L-1), and after induction, fish were transferred to aquaria that were free of anesthetic to evaluate their recovery time. In an additional experiment, slender seahorses were transported in plastic bags with 15 µL L-1 of EO for 4 or 24 h. The increased concentration of EO proportionally decreased the time required for the induction of anesthesia. EO treatment (15 µL L-1) inhibited the increase in blood glucose levels that was provoked by transportation for 4 or 24 h. Transportation for 24 h also decreased the number of lymphocytes and increased the neutrophil count, and these effects were avoided with the addition of EO to the water. These results demonstrate that EO was effective as an anesthetic at concentrations of 10-20 µL L-1 for slight sedation and transport and at 150 µL L-1 for deep anesthesia in the slender seahorse.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar os tempos da indução e recuperação anestésica em cavalos marinhos (Hippocampus reidi) expostos ao óleo essencial de Lippia alba (OE), assim como a eficácia do OE como um agente redutor de estresse no transporte desta espécie. Os cavalos marinhos foram colocados em aquários contendo 1 litro de água e diferentes concentrações de OE (0, 10, 20, 50, 150, 300 e 450 µL L-1), após a indução, os peixes foram transferidos à aquários livre de anestésico para avaliar o tempo de recuperação. Em um outro experimento os cavalos marinhos foram transportados em sacos plásticos contendo 15 µL L-1 do OE por 4 ou 24h. A concentração crescente do OE diminuiu proporcionalmente o tempo exigido para a indução da anestesia. O óleo essencial (15 µL L-1) inibiu o aumento nos níveis de glicose sanguínea provocada pelo transporte por 4 ou 24 h. O transporte por 24 h igualmente diminuiu o número de linfócitos e aumentou o número de neutrófilos, estas alterações foram evitadas com o uso do OE na água. Estes resultados demonstram que no cavalo marinho o OE é eficaz para a sedação e transporte na faixa de 10-20 µL L-1 e para a anestesia profunda recomenda-se 150 µL L-1.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

The aim of this study was to identify the times of anesthetic induction and recovery in slender seahorses (Hippocampus reidi) that were exposed to the essential oil of Lippia alba (EO), as well as the efficacy of EO as a stress-reducing agent in the transport of this species. Slender seahorses were placed in 1-L aquaria containing different concentrations of EO (0, 10, 20, 50, 150, 300 and 450 µL L-1), and after induction, fish were transferred to aquaria that were free of anesthetic to evaluate their recovery time. In an additional experiment, slender seahorses were transported in plastic bags with 15 µL L-1 of EO for 4 or 24 h. The increased concentration of EO proportionally decreased the time required for the induction of anesthesia. EO treatment (15 µL L-1) inhibited the increase in blood glucose levels that was provoked by transportation for 4 or 24 h. Transportation for 24 h also decreased the number of lymphocytes and increased the neutrophil count, and these effects were avoided with the addition of EO to the water. These results demonstrate that EO was effective as an anesthetic at concentrations of 10-20 µL L-1 for slight sedation and transport and at 150 µL L-1 for deep anesthesia in the slender seahorse.

O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar os tempos da indução e recuperação anestésica em cavalos marinhos (Hippocampus reidi) expostos ao óleo essencial de Lippia alba (OE), assim como a eficácia do OE como um agente redutor de estresse no transporte desta espécie. Os cavalos marinhos foram colocados em aquários contendo 1 litro de água e diferentes concentrações de OE (0, 10, 20, 50, 150, 300 e 450 µL L-1), após a indução, os peixes foram transferidos à aquários livre de anestésico para avaliar o tempo de recuperação. Em um outro experimento os cavalos marinhos foram transportados em sacos plásticos contendo 15 µL L-1 do OE por 4 ou 24h. A concentração crescente do OE diminuiu proporcionalmente o tempo exigido para a indução da anestesia. O óleo essencial (15 µL L-1) inibiu o aumento nos níveis de glicose sanguínea provocada pelo transporte por 4 ou 24 h. O transporte por 24 h igualmente diminuiu o número de linfócitos e aumentou o número de neutrófilos, estas alterações foram evitadas com o uso do OE na água. Estes resultados demonstram que no cavalo marinho o OE é eficaz para a sedação e transporte na faixa de 10-20 µL L-1 e para a anestesia profunda recomenda-se 150 µL L-1.

Assuntos