Integrated biomarker response index to assess toxic effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of paracetamol in a neotropical catfish (Rhamdia quelen)

Maiara C Perussolo; Izonete Cristina Guiloski; Juliana Roratto Lirola; Douglas Henrique Fockink; Claudia Rita Corso; Deivyson Cattine Bozza; Viviane Prodocimo; Maritana Mela; Luiz Pereira Ramos; Marta Margarete Cestari; Alexandra Acco; Helena Cristina Silva de Assis

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109438

Integrated biomarker response index to assess toxic effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of paracetamol in a neotropical catfish (Rhamdia quelen)

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2019 Oct 30:182:109438. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109438. Epub 2019 Jul 13.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Box 19031, 81530-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: maiaraperussolo@ufpr.br.
² Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Box 19031, 81530-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil; Department of Genetics, Federal University of Paraná, P.O. Box 19031, 81530-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: iguiloski@gmail.com.
³ Department of Genetics, Federal University of Paraná, P.O. Box 19031, 81530-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: julianaroratto91@hotmail.com.
⁴ Department of Chemistry, Federal University of  Paraná (UFPR), P.O. Box 19032, 81531-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: douglasfockink@ufpr.br.
⁵ Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Box 19031, 81530-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: claudia_rcorso@hotmail.com.
⁶ Department of Physiology, Federal University of Paraná, P.O. Box 19031, 81530-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: deivysonbozza@gmail.com.
⁷ Department of Physiology, Federal University of Paraná, P.O. Box 19031, 81530-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: vprodocimo@ufpr.br.
⁸ Department of Cell Biology, Federal University of Paraná, P.O. Box 19031, 81530- 980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: maritana.mela@ufpr.br.
⁹ Department of Chemistry, Federal University of  Paraná (UFPR), P.O. Box 19032, 81531-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: luiz.ramos@ufpr.br.
¹⁰ Department of Genetics, Federal University of Paraná, P.O. Box 19031, 81530-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: margaces@ufpr.br.
¹¹ Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Box 19031, 81530-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: aleacco@ufpr.br.
¹² Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Box 19031, 81530-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: helassis@ufpr.br.

PMID: 31310901
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109438

Abstract

The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are amongst the most commonly detected classes of pharmaceuticals in freshwater environments, with paracetamol being the most abundant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible toxic effects of environmentally relevant concentrations (0.25, 2.5 and 25 μg.L^-1) of paracetamol in Rhamdia quelen fish exposed for 14 days using different biomarkers. The total count of leukocytes and thrombocytes was reduced at the highest concentration. In the gills, all concentrations of paracetamol reduced the glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and the reduced glutathione (GSH) levels compared to the control group. The activity of catalase (CAT) was not altered and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity increased at the highest concentrations. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity decreased at 25 μg.L^-1 and the LPO levels increased at 2.5 μg.L^-1 when compared to the control group. The concentration of ROS was not different among the groups. In the posterior kidney the activities of GST (2.5 μg.L^-1), CAT (2.5 μg.L^-1 and at 25 μg. L^-1) and GPx and GSH levels increased at all concentrations when compared to the control group. The SOD activity and LPO levels did not change. Paracetamol caused genotoxicity in the blood and gills at concentrations of 2.5 μg.L^-1 and in the posterior kidney at 2.5 and 25 μg.L^-1. An osmoregulatory imbalance in plasma ions and a reduction in the carbonic anhydrase activity in the gills at 0.25 μg.L^-1 were observed. Histopathological alterations occurred in the gills of fish exposed to 25 μg.L^-1 and in the posterior kidney at 0.25 and 25 μg.L^-1 of paracetamol. The integrated biomarker index showed that the stress caused by the concentration of 25 μg.L^-1 was the highest one. These results demonstrated toxic effects of paracetamol on the gills and posterior kidneys of fish, compromising their physiological functions and evidencing the need for monitoring the residues of pharmaceuticals released into aquatic environment.

Keywords: DNA damage; NSAIDs; Nephrotoxicity; Oxidative stress; Paracetamol; Rhamdia quelen.

MeSH terms

Acetaminophen / toxicity*
Animals
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Biomarkers / metabolism
Catalase
Catfishes / physiology*
DNA Damage
Gills / drug effects
Glutathione / pharmacology
Glutathione Peroxidase
Glutathione Transferase
Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity*

Substances

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Biomarkers
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Acetaminophen
Catalase
Glutathione Peroxidase
Glutathione Transferase
Glutathione