Increase in stable isotope ratios driven by metabolic alterations in amphipods exposed to the beta-blocker propranolol

PLoS One. 2019 May 16;14(5):e0211304. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211304. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Anthropogenic pressures, such as contaminant exposure, may affect stable isotope ratios in biota. These changes are driven by alterations in the nutrient allocation and metabolic pathways induced by specific stressors. In a controlled microcosm study with the amphipod Gammarus spp., we studied effects of the β-blocker propranolol on stable isotope signatures (δ15N and δ13C), elemental composition (%C and %N), and growth (protein content and body size) as well as biomarkers of oxidative status (antioxidant capacity, ORAC; lipid peroxidation, TBARS) and neurological activity (acetylcholinesterase, AChE). Based on the known effects of propranolol exposure on cellular functions, i.e., its mode of action (MOA), we expected to observe a lower scope for growth, accompanied by a decrease in protein deposition, oxidative processes and AChE inhibition, with a resulting increase in the isotopic signatures. The observed responses in growth, biochemical and elemental variables supported most of these predictions. In particular, an increase in %N was observed in the propranolol exposures, whereas both protein allocation and body size declined. Moreover, both ORAC and TBARS levels decreased with increasing propranolol concentration, with the decrease being more pronounced for TBARS, which indicates the prevalence of the antioxidative processes. These changes resulted in a significant increase of the δ15N and δ13C values in the propranolol-exposed animals compared to the control. These findings suggest that MOA of β-blockers may be used to predict sublethal effects in non-target species, including inhibited AChE activity, improved oxidative balance, and elevated stable isotope ratios. The latter also indicates that metabolism-driven responses to environmental contaminants can alter stable isotope signatures, which should be taken into account when interpreting trophic interactions in the food webs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Amphipoda / drug effects*
  • Amphipoda / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Carbon Isotopes / metabolism
  • Isotope Labeling
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Nitrogen Isotopes / metabolism
  • Oxidation-Reduction / drug effects
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Propranolol / pharmacology*
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / metabolism

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
  • Biomarkers
  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Nitrogen Isotopes
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
  • Propranolol

Grants and funding

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The work was supported by the Swedish Institute, Sweden (www.si.se) via Isotope ecology network in the Baltic Sea region (grant number 12906/2013 to EG), State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse Foundation (Tongji University, China) (grant number PCRRIC16003; ZY), and by the Swedish Research Council (www.vr.se) as a part of CHEMSTRRES project (grant number 639-2013-6913; EG).